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The Appalachian Mountains serve many roles: important habitat for incredible biodiversity, inspiration for artists, and a destination for tourists. But many lands in Appalachia have also been working lands, driving economic prosperity in the region through industries like forestry and mining. For many decades, coal miners in Appalachia contributed greatly to the American workforce and to the industrial might of our country. But today, fewer and fewer jobs remain, and thousands of acres of surface-mined land sit barren or have been converted to gravelly grassland. Through a specific reforestation process known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach, formerly mined sites can be improved. After reforestation, these sites have higher biodiversity, can help to naturally clean and filter rainwater entering into nearby streams, and provide long-term economic benefits to surrounding communities. The future of Appalachian ecosystems and communities lies in our ability to reckon with these legacies of the past. In this River Talk, you will hear from Cliff Drouet, a Forester with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, about the legacy of the coal industry in this region and what the future holds. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Join the Cumberland River Compact as we hear from Dr. Learotha Williams from Tennessee State University about the story of Hill’s Island. Learn more about Hill's Island: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/explore/hills-island/ Hill’s Island–a space originally occupied by Native Americans—bears the name of one of the most revered slave traders in the antebellum South. Although largely inaccessible to the general public, is an area of the city that has an odd and mildly frenzied history. It became home to an enslaved African whose appearance frightened one of Nashville’s founding families and also served as a Lazaretto or quarantine station for enslaved Blacks who had recently arrived in Middle Tennessee. As an antebellum historical site, it sits in the Cumberland as a monument to Nashville’s first “Big Business.” A century later it would become a recreational space for the city’s well-to-do population, leased out as a space that could host summer camps, and under the auspices of the Seven Day Adventist Church, its history would be closely associated with education and religion in the Athens of the South. This period in its history marks Nashville’s transition into a major Southern city. Today Hill’s island sits in the Cumberland as one of the few pristine, undeveloped sites in the city. There is still much to learn about its antebellum past and the lives of Native Americans and enslaved Blacks who lived there, its role as a recreational space, and its overall role in the history of the Music City. As we consider its history in the 21st century Nashville, we grapple with how to reanimate and share these histories with new audiences. This project is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional Acknowledgments: Jasmine Spears of Tennessee State University, Tennessee State Museum staff of Jeff Sellers and Miranda Fraley, Aaron Deter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Steve Haruch and Andrea Tudhope of WPLN, and Andrew Ostrowski of Pontoon Saloon (who helps bring us out the island!) Previous episode about Hill's Island: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/06/16/tenngreen-land-conservancy-gifts-hills-island-to-cumberland-river-compact/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Learn more about Dodd Galbreath and the resources mentioned in the podcast on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/10/24/dodd-galbreath-tennessee/ You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has had as much influence over Tennessee's environment and its people as Dodd Galbreath. Dodd has dedicated his life to building an inclusive, transparent, and influential environmental movement in our state. He spent decades in public service before turning his efforts towards training the sustainability workforce by developing Lipscomb University's Institute for Sustainable Practices.  In 2020, Dodd Galbreath was the recipient of the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In this River Talk, Dodd shares about his roles in local and state government, his mindset behind creating the Institute for Sustainable Practice, the role of creation care in the environmental movement, and how (and why!) we should all find our space in protecting Tennessee's environment. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Check our blog for full resources mentioned in this episode: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/09/21/pfas-tennessee/ You may never have heard of PFAS, but this emerging contaminant is getting more and more attention. Although it's considered "emerging", it's actually a chemical pollutant that has been around for decades, and remains in the environment as a "forever chemical". Research now links PFAS to many health issues and the public discourse around PFAS is increasing. Policies for PFAS regulation are becoming increasingly prevalent at the state level, while the federal government is developing its own framework for action. In this River Talk, we are joined by Erin Kanzig who is the River Programs Policy and Research Associate at River Network and based in Detroit, Michigan. River Network is a national nonprofit that empowers and unites people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain all life. In this conversation, Erin helps us navigate the current PFAS landscape including regulations, health advisories, and federal funding. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Across the United States, 11 million acres of farmland have been lost from 2001 to 2016. In Tennessee, we lost around 650,000 acres with an additional 1 million acres of land projected to be converted by 2040. Much of the loss comes from the conversion of land to subdivisions and large-lot housing development. Beyond just agriculture, farmlands can provide economic, cultural, and social benefits to our communities. And when stewarded well, farmland can provide environmental benefits. Farmland loss particularly impacts our small and mid-sized farms and farmers. These threats to our farmlands can impact us all. In today's River Talk, we are joined by Brooks Lamb, Program Associate and Specialist Assistant to the President at American Farmland Trust. Brooks shares about the current threats to America's farmland and what that means for us right here in Tennessee. We talk about the impacts on small and mid-sized farmers, and how connecting new farmers to land and to sustainable agricultural best practices can be a win-win. Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/08/23/farmland-under-threat-with-brooks-lamb-american-farmland-trust/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

The Summer of 2022 is already the second hottest summer in Nashville on record. And it's not over yet. Urban areas like Nashville experience a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island Effect, which means temperatures are higher in the city than in surrounding rural areas. Vulnerable residents, such as children and the elderly, are at risk for heat illness when temperatures rise. Hot days aren't just a nuisance. They're dangerous. While it’s not always talked about, there are more heat-related deaths in the United States than deaths from floods, tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, and blizzards combined. The hottest parts of the city are areas that lack trees and green spaces, which naturally cool us down. Nashville is one of 14 cities in the US participating in an urban heat mapping campaign this summer. Community scientists from across Nashville will have the opportunity to participate in the campaign to map hot spots across the city by driving pre-determined routes with sensors attached to their cars. The data will show the warmest and coolest spots in our city to help inform heat mitigation efforts by city public health and environmental officials, nonprofits, urban planners, urban foresters, and researchers. Today's guests: Krissy Hurley, Meteorologist in Charge at the National Weather Service Office in Nashville, TN Dr. Kendra Abkowitz, Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer with the Office of Mayor John Cooper and the City of Nashville Mekayle Houghton, Executive Director, Cumberland River Compact Carol Ziegler, Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Co-Founder of the Climate, Health, and Energy Equity Lab at the Wondr’y Dr. David Padgett, Associate Professor of Geography, Tennessee State University More information available on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/07/26/urban-heat-nashville/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Now more than ever, farmers are challenged with keeping valuable topsoil on fields, fostering soil that can retain water during periods of drought, and bringing back life to our soils so that they can provide for us long into the future. Healthy soils filter pollutants, store carbon, and infiltrate water, keeping our rivers and streams cleaner and healthier. The continual implementation of soil health practices is part of regenerative agriculture (sometimes referred to as RegenAg) that promotes farming in balance with what nature already does well. The regenerative agriculture movement is not necessarily new and follows many practices that Indigenous communities have used for centuries. Common regenerative techniques that are part of the current movement include cover cropping, where crops are planted in the soil after a cash crop is harvested instead of leaving the soil bare, and no-till, which leaves the soil in place rather than plowing. These practices help maintain living roots in the soil, increase water infiltration, and improve future growth in those soils. In this episode of River Talks, we are joined by two leading soil health entrepreneurs and innovators, Mitchell Hora and Jeremiah Durbin. Together, they share how we can scale-up the implementation of regenerative agriculture by going on the offense, using big data and technology, and leaning into a future of farming that helps companies, consumers, and growers meet both their environmental and profit goals. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/06/20/regenerative-sustainable-agriculture-tennessee/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255. The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. Text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Clean and abundant water is provided to communities across the United States by skilled and trained environmental professionals. Yet the water workforce is facing an impending retirement crisis, with an expected 30 to 50 percent of the workforce retiring in the next decade. The crisis has reached emergency levels in many rural communities. At the same time, our water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure are in desperate need of reinvestment to be resilient for the future, and stricter guidelines are coming out to protect water.  Ensuring clean water is available to communities necessitates a highly-skilled, trained, and certified workforce. The 2018 state water report, Tennessee H20, outlines the crisis we could face. It states that while protecting the availability of water in our state is important, “equal attention must be given to the critical need associated with a diminishing workforce charged with the maintenance, security, and growth of our infrastructure investment. The state is quickly reaching the disturbing point of not having a sufficient number of operators to protect, manage, and maintain these systems in the future.” In today's River Talk, we dive into the water workforce crisis and its impacts on our state, plus we explore how to connect young people to these rewarding STEM careers. Our guests on the podcast include Kevin Byrd from the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, Cristina Carbajo with the Water Quality Technology Program at Pellissippi State Community College, Misty Brown with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, and, of course, the Cumberland River Compact. These diverse partners come together in a unique collaborative approach to addressing the water workforce crisis and to providing clean water for Tennesseeans. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

The Cumberland River Compact is pleased to collaborate with Tennessee State Parks and the Mack Prichard Legacy Project to present this special episode of River Talks to celebrate the legacy of Mack Prichard. This special episode of River Talks will introduce you to Mack Prichard in honor of Mack Prichard Day on March 31st. For some listeners, the name Mack Prichard is synonymous with Tennessee’s environment. For other the name may be new. But if you have stepped foot in a Tennessee State Park, Natural Area, or really any conserved land in our state, you can probably thank Mack for making your experience possible. Mack Prichard was known as The Conservation Conscience” of Tennessee and had a wide and lasting influence on Tennessee's environmental heritage. In this episode, you will hear some details about Mack's life, but most importantly, you will hear stories collected from his family, friends, and colleagues about Mack the conservationist, Mack the environmental advocate, and Mack the friend. The Cumberland River Compact extends our deepest gratitude to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mack Prichard who generously shared their stories with us. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/03/23/mack-prichard-collected-stories-from-tennessees-conservation-conscience/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Summary: "The river belongs to all of us. We are a river city. It is part of our identity even if we do not see it much". - David Ewing The Cumberland River is a powerful and important waterway that connects Nashville with the region, supplies water to the area, and continues to be a mode of transportation. In this River Talk, we hear from local historian David Ewing about the history of the river and how it was literally responsible for the founding and growth of Nashville. Hear stories about how it froze, flooded, and how the Cumberland River put Nashville on the map. While sometimes ignored the Cumberland has been a driving force for the growth and development in Nashville. This podcast is pre-recorded audio from a lecture from David Ewing in September 2021. You will hear him occasionally mention photos or images. See more on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/02/21/the-cumberland-river-nashvilles-most-important-asset-with-david-ewing/ About David Ewing: David Ewing is a ninth generation Nashvillian, historian and tour guide. He runs an upscale private history tour company called Nashville History On Tour. The Nashville Scene in 2017 named him “Best Historian”.  In 2018 the Nashville Scene named his Instagram page “The Nashville I Wish I Knew” the “Best Nashville Instagram Page” which has over 20,000 followers. In 2021 Mayor John Cooper said David Ewing is one of Nashville’s greatest historians. David is a graduate of Connecticut College and Vanderbilt School of Law. David previously was SVP of Government and Community Relations for the Nashville Chamber and held that same role at Gaylord Entertainment.  David has served on boards of the Metro Historical Commission, Metro Historic Zoning Commission, Cheekwood, The Nashville Symphony, The Nashville Opera, The Hermitage and Travelers Rest.  He is a graduate of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Middle Tennessee, Young Leaders Council and Leadership Donelson Hermitage. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Along the banks of the Red River in Adams, TN sits the remnants of an influential, yet sometimes forgotten town: Port Royal. The town heritage is now stewarded by Tennessee State Parks. At only 30-acres, Port Royal State Park is the second smallest State Park in Tennessee but the area had a big and historic influence on our state. The town rose in prominence as an important commercial hub in the newly founded state of Tennessee. But you did not have to live in Port Royal to experience it. Businesses relied on Port Royal's waterway connections to larger towns, enslaved people built the structures, and thousands of Cherokee were forcibly marched through the town as part of the Trail of Tears. In this River Talk, we are joined by Port Royal State Park Ranger Bobby Cooley to explore the history and influence of Port Royal. Woven throughout the story of Port Royal is the influence of one waterway, the Red River, on the growth of the town. Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/01/24/port-royal-tennessee/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

The rivers and streams of the southeastern United States feature astounding biodiversity, warranting the nickname of "underwater rainforests" of life. From the colorful tangerine darter to the charismatic river chub and the prehistoric sturgeon, you can find a little bit of everything in our waterways. Yet we also know these species are threatened by the regular culprits of water pollution, habitat alteration, invasive species, and overfishing. In this episode of River Talks, we explore the stories of these underwater rainforests with Dr. Anna George the Vice President of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium. The Tennessee Aquarium connects people to nature with a particular focus on celebrating, preserving, and restoring biodiversity in the southeast. Learn more about what was mentioned in this episode: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/12/20/underwater-rainforests-biodiversity-anna-george/ Support the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Across the Cumberland River basin, the Cumberland River Compact implements innovative stream restoration in vital ecosystems. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Decade positions the restoration of ecosystems as a major nature-based solution towards meeting a wide range of global development goals and national priorities. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people. The Cumberland River Compact addresses the root causes of water quality issues often through restoration. Our goals with restoration are to mimic nature, protect vital habitat, and replenish stream flows. Depending on the situation, we use a variety of techniques to do this from green infrastructure to dam removals to streambank stabilization. We complement our restoration work with community engagement across a watershed to address these issues on a broader level. Mansker Creek is a well-known and well-loved stream in Goodlettsville, TN, that meanders through neighborhoods and communities before entering the Cumberland River near Moss-Wright Park. Like many of our urban streams, Mansker Creek has several water quality impairments, including high levels of sediment and pathogens. As with many other watersheds, heavy urbanization and increased runoff in the area created conditions of severe bank erosion in parts of Mansker Creek, contributing to sedimentation in the creek among other problems. To address the problem, we worked with the City of Goodlettsville and KCI Technologies to repair the eroded bank in Moss Wright Park. In this podcast, Will Caplenor, Field Operations Supervisor with the Cumberland River Compacts, speaks to Adam Spiller and Zach Mryncza with KCI Technologies about this stream restoration project and how it addressed the root causes of water quality issues in Mansker Creek. We explore the process of restoration and how these projects can make our streams more resilient into the future. See all the details about this post on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/10/15/stream-restoration-mansker-creek-tennessee/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Climate change comes with ample risks to Middle Tennessee, but there is also the opportunity to build resilience in the face of these changes. We know climate change in Middle Tennessee brings more extreme heat and severe storms, which will lead to more frequent and devasting flooding. And we already see these impacts in both urban and rural Tennessee communities. In this episode of River Talks, we are joined by Dr. Janey Camp from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Camp studies the interactions between nature and man-made systems, with a particular focus on identifying risk in key areas. Dr. Camp shares the unique climate vulnerabilities in our rural communities, the ways climate change serves as a threat multiplier, and how critical infrastructure like roads and energy systems, can be impacted by climate events. See the full blog post about this episode.  About Dr. Janey Camp: Dr. Janey Camp is a Research Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University. She has a broad range of interests but is ultimately interested in studying the interactions of nature and man-made systems utilizing geospatial technologies. This includes modeling future flooding and the potential impacts on communities and infrastructure systems to identify key risk areas. In addition, she is involved in several interdisciplinary projects focused on infrastructure system adaptation to climate change, risk management and also STEM integration into education. Dr. Camp was recently selected as a co-author for the 5th National Climate Assessment.  In this podcast: What might we expect to see with climate change in Middle Tennessee? How is climate change a threat multiplier in Middle Tennessee? What do the climate impacts look like in rural Tennessee? What are some examples of our critical infrastructure that may be impacted by climate change? How will our growing and changing population in Middle Tennessee affect how climate change impacts us moving forward? What do you envision when you think of a climate-resilient future for Middle Tennessee? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Childhoods spent exploring creeks, streams, and ponds inspired a lifelong dedication to protect aquatic biodiversity for JR Shute and Pat Rakes. Together they founded Conservation Fisheries a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of aquatic biodiversity in streams and rivers, particularly in the Southeast. In today's episode of River Talks, JR and Pat join Cumberland River Compact Program Manager Jed Grubbs to share their wealth of natural history knowledge about the rare and imperiled species that call our waters home. Together they share why our region is so biodiverse, the unique life history of freshwater mussels, and the delicate dance between the endangered Barren's Topminnows and the pervasive mosquito fish. Plus, you will hear about how an upcoming stream restoration project with the Cumberland River Compact is protecting crucial habitat for the Barren's Topminnow in Coffee County. Full episode details available on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/09/28/discovering-and-preserving-our-most-imperiled-aquatic-biodiversity-with-conservations-fisheries/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

From 1933 to 1942 thousands of men across Tennessee created some of our most treasured outdoor places like our Tennessee State Parks and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. These men were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal-era program to employ and train young men to complete projects in support of the environment and conservation. Across our state and country, the impact of this program can still be seen today. In this episode of River Talks, we talk with Matthew Gailani and Amanda McCrary Smith from the Tennessee State Museum. Matthew is a museum curator and Amanda is the curator of Textiles and Fashion. Together they share the history and impacts of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee and beyond. Finally, we will share how history may be repeating itself with the Civilian Climate Corps. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Climate change is one of the most pressing problems faced by today’s global community. Across the United States, we see constant reminders that climate change is here: record heat in the Pacific Northwest, wildlife smoke that hazes the air in Tennessee, or 100-year flood events happening way more frequently than expected. And climate change is not just an environmental issue: it’s a social, cultural, economic, and political issue. Today’s climate movement is centering justice and equity in its approaches to solutions. Young people did not cause the problem of climate change, but across the world, they are becoming some of the most vocal advocates for change. Youth, like Greta Thunberg, are household names and are using their voices to stand up to world leaders with calls for action. And more and more young people are finding their place in the climate movement. In today’s episode of River Talks, we talk with Rachael Hood, an organizer with Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice. Rachael is a Master’s Student at West Virginia University and is one of several young people who recently started Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice to address climate change across Appalachia. We chat about climate justice, climate change in Appalachia, and the work her group is tackling in the region. About Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice connects youth organizers working on transformative climate justice across the region. You can keep up to date with their work on Twitter and Instagram or reach out via email (youthforacj@gmail.com). In this podcast: What is Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice and how did it get started? What is climate justice? Why is it important to have a space exclusively for Appalachian youth? What are the climate impacts in Appalachia? What is the petrochemical buildout in Appalachia and what are the impacts? How can you support climate justice in Appalachia? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

As Nashville continues to grow, properties along the banks of the Cumberland River have become coveted parcels of land for developers. There are plans to dramatically change several areas of the riverfront in the coming years, but one section will remain untouched, and under the continued stewardship of a conservation group. The TennGreen Land Conservancy has generously gifted Hill’s Island, located on the river in Madison, to the Cumberland River Compact. Hill’s Island is a 20-acre parcel of wooded land that stretches nearly a half-mile, creating a channel on the western side of the island. The area attracts a variety of wildlife, such as nesting birds and deer, along with various trees and plant life. Hill’s Island had been under the ownership of TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks and & Greenways Foundation) since 2006. TennGreen is the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee and will continue to help landowners and communities to protect large connected natural areas. In the years following TennGreen’s acquisition of the island, the organization planned to use the land as an outdoor classroom and wilderness park. These plans reflected both the values of keeping the land wild and rustic, while also providing a unique and responsibly managed educational venue for the community to build a stronger connection to the Cumberland River, along with the species residents who rely on it. TennGreen approached the Cumberland River Compact with this vision after determining the endeavor laid outside its primary mission. The Compact acquired Hill’s Island in June 2021 and looks forward to continuing to explore the opportunities to share the island for education, research, and recreation as well as become deeply familiar with the island’s historical significance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

Criss-crossing our city are thousands of miles of urban streams that we see near our homes, on our way to work or school. These urban streams are often highly visible and open peoples’ eyes to the beauty and wonder of water. But urban streams also face water quality challenges as they flow through densely populated urban areas. In this River Talk, we speak with Mary Bruce and Michael Hunt from Metro Water Services about the urban stream syndrome along with some of the opportunities to make improvements in our urban waters. Then we’ll chat with Gray Perry and Will Caplenor with the Cumberland River Compact about a current restoration project in the Brown’s Creek watershed and how we use science and data to inform our innovative restoration work. There are many ways that you can get involved in caring for urban streams. You can easily learn the name of the closest stream near you with the Cumberland River Compact’s tool iCreek. Or come out and volunteer with us! Our Brown’s Creek project will have several volunteer opportunities coming up where you can get involved in this work. Join us on Saturdays in June to DePave an old parking lot near Brown's Creek. Check out our volunteer calendar for all the upcoming opportunities. You can even adopt a stream near you to commit to be a steward for your local urban stream.  The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message

The Cumberland River watershed is part of the third most biodiverse freshwater in the world. Thousands of species rely on the land and waters in our region. Yet across the world biodiversity is declining at unprecedented and alarming rates. When many of us think about where wildlife lives, we probably picture wide-open parklands, protected national parks, and remote areas away from people. But biodiversity is also found right near our cities. From April 30-May 3rd Nashville is one of over 400 cities around the world participating in the City Nature Challenge. During this one-weekend, people across the world get out to find, observe and share wildlife in their city. By using the app iNaturalist, these observations help scientists around the world understand what’s happening with biodiversity. You can find all the details about the event on our website. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/event/city-nature-challenge-2021-nashville/. In today’s episode, we talk with two biodiversity experts. First up, we’ll hear from Kim Bailey, a lifelong nature enthusiast and naturalist extraordinaire with Warner Park Nature Center. She’ll share more about how you can explore biodiversity in our cities. Then we hear from Richard Hitt, with the local chapter of WildOnes. Richard will share about what we can do in our own backyards to make them great habitat for Tennessee biodiversity. Resources mentioned in today's episode: Native Plant Finder: https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/ Field Guide to Insects of North America: http://www.kaufmanfieldguides.com/insects.html Butterflies of Tennessee: https://ritavenable.com/?page_id=22 Wildflowers of Tennessee: The Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wildflowers-of-tennessee-the-ohio-valley-and-the-southern-appalachians-dennis-horn/1100003358 A Field Guide to Eastern Trees: Eastern United States and Canada, Including the Midwest: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-field-guide-to-eastern-trees-roger-tory-peterson/1119268741 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thecompact/message