This year, the forum centers on the theme “Pride of Place,” featuring two panel discussions that illustrate the economic value of planning and investing in place-based conservation efforts that preserve the region’s unique communities now, and ensure they thrive in the future.

Attendees will engage with regional leaders in government, research, and conservation through panel discussions and Q&A sessions, to learn how these efforts enrich local communities.

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The Natural Treasures Stewardship Forum, supported by Chattanooga Gas and the Lyndhurst Foundation, is a cornerstone event of Thrive’s Natural Treasures Alliance, a collective of organizations and individuals that work together to ensure a legacy of the region’s landscape, including its natural, scenic, and nature-based cultural and recreational assets.

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Pride of Place: The Value of Investing in Place and Nature

Economic + Social Benefits of Conservation and Outdoor Recreation

Moderated by Alex Green, Executive Director at Rhea ECD

Featuring:

• Dr. Andrew Bailey, UC Foundation Professor at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  
• Mike Cameron, Georgia State Representative for District 1
• Jared Carter, Executive Director at North Alabama Trails & Recreation
• Rick Huffines, Executive Director of the Appalachian Conservation Institute

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‍Planning for Resilience: Understanding Place and Future Potential

Moderated by Nathaniel Bankhead, Permaculture Consultant and owner of Wild Violet Permaculture

Featuring:

• Ben Kern, Associate Planner MKSK
• Joel Houser, Resilient Communities team member and Director of Capital Grants at Open Space Institute
• Heidi Hefferlin, Founder and Managing Partner, HK Architects

Experience community resilience in action with a scenic hike and conversation

After the program, join members of the Dalton Resilient Communities committee for a scenic, half-mile round-trip hike along the Cascade Trail, located on the campus of Dalton State College. This moderate walk winds through a beautiful forest at the base of Rocky Face Ridge — a key conservation area the committee is working to protect.

During a rest stop by a scenic waterfall, committee members will share how preserving the forested slopes of Rocky Face Ridge will help safeguard critical ecosystem services like flood control and heat mitigation. You'll also learn about their community education initiatives, designed to raise awareness of the forest's many benefits as north Georgia faces rising temperatures and more intense rainfall.

Come see firsthand how resilience planning is shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for local communities!

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