NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Shari Meghreblian today announced the winners of the 2018 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards. Winners will be recognized for their achievements and positive impact on the state’s natural resources in an awards ceremony to be held in Franklin on July 9, 2018.
“These recipients have gone above and beyond what’s required of them, and I commend their passion and drive to make Tennessee a more sustainable and innovative state,” said Haslam.
The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives not required by law or regulation. In its 32nd year, this year’s awards program covers nine categories: Building Green; Clean Air; Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach; Environmental Education and Outreach (schools); Land Use; Materials Management; Natural Heritage; and Sustainable Performance.
“A lot of TDEC’s work focuses on education and partnerships that promote these types of voluntary actions wherever possible,” said Meghreblian. “These organizations demonstrate that environmental stewardship can be conducive to economic gains and healthier communities.”
The 2018 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award recipients are listed below. Details about each award winner can be found in the attachment.
Six additional entities will be announced at the awards ceremony: four will receive Pursuit of Excellence Awards, which honor past award winners who continue to demonstrate a high regard for environmental stewardship practices; two will be honored with the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award – one for a professional and one for a volunteer.
A panel of 18 professionals representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental and academic professionals judged more than 75 nominations and selected this year’s award recipients based on criteria including on-the-ground achievement, innovation and public education.
For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/redirect—policy-and-sustainable-practices/opsp-sustainable-practices/governor-s-environmental-stewardship-awards.html.
Winner: Bells Bend Conservation Corridor
County: Davidson
Category: Land Use
The mission of the Bells Bend Conservation Corridor is to promote and protect the rural
character of Bells Bend. Members are working to establish an outdoor recreational, cultural
and residential conservation district that serves as a county, state and regional planning
model for open space preservation. The Beaman Park to Bells Bend conservation area is a
north-south corridor between Beaman Park and the oxbow in the Cumberland River that
forms Bells Bend, encompassing roughly 34 square miles or 22,000 acres. This area is
book-ended by two of Metro Nashville’s newest and largest parks, Beaman Park in the
north and Bells Bend Park in the south. Currently, 350 acres are in conservation easements
held by the Land Trust for Tennessee.
Two major programs that benefit from the Bells Bend Conservation Corridor include the
Share to Share Program and the Scholarships for Camp Bells Bend Beaman. The goal of the
Share to Share program is to provide access to fresh, locally grown produce for food
insecure families in Nashville. The Bells Bend Farm is one of four local farms that are able
to donate to families in need each summer. The Bells Bend Conservation Corridor has
formed a partnership with Camp Bells Bend Beaman and launched the Beaman Park to
Bells Bend Conservation Corridor Scholarship Program, which offers flexible pricing in
service to camp families for outdoor play, exploration and education through activities and
experiences.
