Southern Appalachians NFWF
An investment of more than $900,000 will accelerate large-scale white oak restoration and resilience efforts across North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
A $451,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, along with significant matching contributions, will generate more than $900,000 in support for oak restoration across North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This investment fuels a coordinated, multi‑state effort led by The Nature Conservancy and its partners, including the White Oak Initiative, the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, the University of Kentucky, the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and the North Carolina Forest Service. Together, these partners are tackling the restoration of oak ecosystems in priority Southern Appalachian landscapes.
Partnering for Impact
With support from this NFWF grant - which specializes in blending public USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service dollars with private funding for greater on-the-ground conservation impact - our team will address the challenges of regenerating healthy oak forests head-on.
This project brings together:
Forestry and conservation experts
State and local agencies
Nonprofits and technical service providers
Family landowners and industry stakeholders
Advancing On-the-Ground Stewardship
Partners will expand active forest management, improve wildlife habitat, and support landowners in adopting practices that build healthier, more resilient oak forests. The work centers on public and private lands where strategic restoration can deliver the greatest long-term benefits, boosting biodiversity, strengthening rural economies, and securing the future of white oak across the region. This project focuses on:
Restoring 740 acres of upland oak‑pine forests through thinning, prescribed fire, and planting native species.
Developing practical tools and networks, including an Oak Management Practitioners’ Pocket Guide and an Oak Stewardship Network to support knowledge‑sharing, field workshops, and peer learning.
Expanding private‑lands outreach by funding a Ruffed Grouse Society forester to help landowners access NRCS programs that support oak‑pine management in East Tennessee.
Identifying critical research gaps in oak management to guide future studies, strengthen collaboration, and ensure restoration strategies are grounded in the best available science.
A New Path for Resilient Forests
This work is about far more than restoring acres, it’s about reshaping how we care for the forests that sustain our communities, wildlife, and economies. Through this partnership and new investment, we’re proving that thoughtful stewardship and shared commitment can reverse the trajectory of declining oak regeneration and recruitment.
Oak forests are a cornerstone of the Southern Appalachians, and with the right management, they can continue providing ecological, cultural, and economic value for generations. This project reflects both the responsibility and the opportunity we have to safeguard these landscapes. Together, we’re building a future where healthy forests and thriving communities grow in the same direction.
For more information, contact:
Chelsea Bowers, Media Relations Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Mobile: 804-728-0588
Email: chelsea.bowers@tnc.org
Stories from the Ground
