Collaborate x Connect: A Natural Treasures Stewardship Forum

Collaborate x Connect: A Natural Treasures Stewardship Forum, presented by Chattanooga Gas, highlights conversations shaping the future of land stewardship in the tri-state region.

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Rossville, GA: Thrive Regional Partnership (Thrive) hosted Collaborate x Connect: A Natural Treasures Stewardship Forum, presented by Chattanooga Gas.

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Hosted at the Bridge Innovate studio in Rossville, Georgia, the event welcomed stakeholders across sectors, state, and county lines, to share and understand the benefits of landscape conservation for local economies, thoughtful growth, and community health.

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Collaborate x Connect featured several speakers on balancing natural resource protection with development. Throughout the event, speakers underscored the importance of thoughtful decision-making and data monitoring to ensure the natural environment continues to provide a high-quality of life for residents in greater Chattanooga.

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Research shows that:

• About 922,038 acres, or about 13% of the tri-state region, is protected through conservation easement, according to the Cradle of Southern Appalachia data dashboard.
• Nearly 2,030 miles of streams in the tri-state are considered impaired by the Environmental Protection Agency’s 303d standards, according to the Cradle of Southern Appalachia data dashboard. Primary causes for stream impairment include agricultural management practices and urban run-off.
• Between 2020-2022, Natural Treasures partners protected 10,547 acres in the tri-state.

Collaborate x Connect also highlighted three unique community projects in the tri-state that harness the benefits of natural assets for local economies, health, and resilience. Featured projects included:

1. The Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail in Chickamauga, Georgia;
2. The Citadel climbing preserve near Fort Payne, Alabama; and
3. The Rooting for the Ridge initiative in Dalton, Georgia.

Collaborate x Connect is a cornerstone event of Thrive’s Natural Treasures Alliance, a collective of organizations and individuals that work together to ensure a legacy of the region’s landscape, including its natural, scenic, and nature-based cultural and recreational assets. About thirty-two organizations from across the tri-state have signed a declaration of support for coordinated land stewardship in the region.