Chattanooga’s Environmental Stewardship & Education

Key Threats:

• Environmental Degradation and Pollution
  Local ecosystems face threats from pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Degraded habitats impact water quality for wildlife and humans while reducing biodiversity. Educational opportunities need to be expanded to address critical habitats first while leading a broad effort to lead all residents to adopt more environmentally-friendly practices.
• Limited Environmental Education Resources
  Not all communities have access to quality environmental education programs. Providing these resources will impart future generations with the knowledge needed to restore and care for Chattanooga’s natural assets.
• Urban Development Pressure
  Expanding urban areas encroach on green spaces and watersheds, reducing habitat and opportunities for environmental education – in nature. By protecting natural areas, a deeper connection to nature can be realized by multi-generations
• Lack of Community Engagement in Stewardship
  Environmental stewardship requires widespread community involvement, yet not all residents feel empowered to participate. Stronger community support both in the government and private sectors will bolster Chattanooga’s ability to restore and protect its natural areas effectively.
• Lack of Budget Prioritization
  While prioritized by the community, conservation goals are woefully underfunded and will require massive catch-up investments to overcome decades of insufficient public investment. For example, the City of Chattanooga's Parks & Outdoors Plan identified over $100M of maintenance backlogs in City parks. Many areas set aside for conservation have little or no budget for management and continue to degrade thanks to invasive species, erosion, and pollution.

Our Solution:

Lead with education and action to protect nature for future generations. This approach emphasizes:

1. Environmental Degradation and Pollution

• Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is working to mitigate environmental damage in parks and waterways by implementing pollution prevention programs, focusing on reducing erosion, and restoring native vegetation to enhance biodiversity.
• TN Aquarium leads programs like the Tennessee River Rescue and microplastics monitoring projects, engaging volunteers in cleanups and educating visitors on waterway pollution.
• Reflection Riding undertakes habitat restoration by removing invasive species and replanting native plants, creating healthier environments for wildlife and better air and water quality.
• Water Ways of Chattanooga offers workshops and community events to educate on water conservation practices and pollution prevention, emphasizing personal responsibility in keeping waterways clean.

2. Expanding Environmental Education

• Parks and Outdoors hosts youth programs and school partnerships focused on the importance of nature conservation, especially targeting underserved communities to broaden environmental education access.
• TN Aquarium operates extensive education initiatives, including the River Explorer program for school groups and virtual learning platforms, providing science education focused on aquatic ecosystems.
• Reflection Riding has nature-based educational programs like guided hikes and field trips to foster hands-on learning and cultivate a love for the environment in all age groups.
• Water Ways implements the Creek Critters program that introduces students to aquatic biodiversity and stream health, inspiring young people to understand local ecosystems.

3. Urban Development Pressure

• Parks and Outdoors incorporates conservation zones within urban parks, balancing development with green space preservation, and seeks to protect green belts around the city to limit urban sprawl.
• Reflection Riding collaborates on conservation easements that protect land from future development, ensuring these spaces remain dedicated to environmental education and natural habitat preservation.

4. Enhancing Community Engagement in Stewardship

• Parks and Outdoors launched the Park Stewards program, engaging residents as volunteers to help maintain and restore parks and trails, instilling a community-driven approach to stewardship.
• TN Aquarium organizes regular volunteer days for river and habitat restoration projects, encouraging community participation and educating on the value of environmental protection.
• Reflection Riding offers volunteer days and encourages hands-on involvement in their ecological restoration projects, creating direct ways for the public to contribute to environmental stewardship.
• WaterWays spearheads an annual River Rescue and litter reduction efforts through litter booms and cleanups

5. Addressing Budget Prioritization

• Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is actively seeking grants and private partnerships to reduce maintenance backlogs and fund sustainable infrastructure upgrades.
• Reflection Riding and Water Ways leverage partnerships with private donors and conservation groups to secure resources for ongoing conservation and educational programs, addressing funding gaps that have hampered past efforts.

Through these combined efforts, Chattanooga’s environmental organizations are enhancing the city’s resilience against environmental threats, fostering a community that values and actively supports the stewardship of natural resources.

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