We love when a plan comes together

Lately we’ve talked a lot about what it means to manage the Old Forest: from developing a forest inventory to deciding which invasive species to tackle, working in an ecosystem like this one is a big job.  That’s why we’ve been working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for the last several years to develop a State Natural Area Management Plan.  And now it’s time to present that plan to the public and hear your feedback.

A draft will be presented on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The meeting will take place in the Azalea Room on the first floor of the Parkview Retirement Community at 1914 Poplar Avenue (corner of Poplar and Tucker at the park entrance). The public will be encouraged to provide feedback on the draft, which you can view by clicking this link.

The Old Forest State Natural Area is owned by the City of Memphis and managed by Overton Park Conservancy under the guidance of TDEC’s Division of Natural Areas. As a Class II Natural-Scientific Natural Area, the Old Forest requires a plan that emphasizes ecosystem health over recreational use. Class II SNAs are described by TDEC as “containing floral assemblages, forest types, fossil assemblages, geological phenomena, hydrological phenomena, swamplands and other similar features or phenomena which are unique in natural or scientific value and are worthy of perpetual preservation.”

If you have specific or general concerns about the type of management or use that is permitted in the SNA, you can provide your comments to us at this meeting, and we’ll pass them along to TDEC. The meeting will include a brief presentation on the SNA as well as the structure of the draft management plan.

No RSVP is necessary to attend. We hope to see you there!