The Value of Land
“We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”― Aldo Leopold
Land is a resource that has cultural, economic, and aesthetic value. Here in the Tennessee River Valley, all three of the values have been fought for, exploited, and protected.
Indigenous people fought for their ancestral lands against invading white settlers. Early pioneers valued the land for the crops that could be grown and sold; the wood that could be used to build and heat their homes. Speculators exploited the land for mineral extraction, clear timbering, and commercial development. Later, industrialization exploited rivers for transport of goods and river access. Cities ignored sprawling development with little regard for green spaces and pressure on natural resources.
As early as 1911, the pressures of development led to the Weeks Act, which sought to protect the headwaters of rivers and watersheds in the eastern United States through the purchase of private land by the federal government. This ACT became one of the most importance conservation efforts in the 20th Century to mitigate the damage done by misuse of land. In a twenty year period beginning in 1917, the states in the Tennessee River Valley benefited from the development of significant national forests such as Nantahala, Pisgah, and Unaka (NC), William Bankhead (AL), Chattahoochee (GA), Cumberland/ Boone (KY), and Cherokee (TN.) Today, these lands protect important habitats and waterways. While sometimes fragmented and smaller then western properties, these public lands serve large populations of people who benefit from the protection of watersheds that supply clean drinking water.
Today, these forests are a blueprint for stewarding public resources for the good of all. From the work of the CCC reforesting barren lands beginning in 1933 to the modern day TVA’s active role in managing public property have improved lands across the Tennessee River Basin that were so severely damaged, that the Soil Erosion Service Division, Office of the Interior’s Hugh Bennett noted that erosion had changed former arable land to simply clay and subsoil. (Clark, Greening of the South 1984) The practice of reforestation continually renews the soil which in turn reduces the risk of run-off and increases carbon uptake, with a hopeful outcome for climate change.
A visit to these national lands today are living demonstrations of the impact of public policy and education to provide open green spaces prized for recreation and ecological and stewardship values.
The Science of Hunting Conservation
“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”. Aldo Leopold
When hunters take to the woods this month, conservation of wildlife and land management is always “in play.” From bag limits to enforcement of poaching laws to monitoring the health of wildlife areas, state agencies stay busy protecting the health of public lands in the Tennessee River Valley.
In the not too distant past, the populations of wildlife (bear, deer, and elk) in the region had dropped so low that hunters took the lead in enacting legislation that would improve the conditions.
By 1907, Legislation was passed at the bequest of the hunting community to require hunting and fishing licenses. This was followed by the 1937 enactment of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act — the brainchild of the country’s hunters and anglers — into law by President Franklin Roosevelt. The ACT established a manufacturers’ excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition to generate revenue for wildlife conservation. Since its inception, more than $14 billion has gone to buying wildlife habitat and reintroducing imperiled species. (Pettijohn 2021)
In the years that followed and continue today, the regional state Wildlife Resource Agencies, TVA, Forestry, and conservation groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation lead the efforts to sustain healthy populations and set aside public lands for wildlife management.
When you take to the woods, be aware of the regulations that exist, so that future generations can follow in your footsteps.
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
- Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
By the Light of the Hunters Moon
The early morning fog blanketing the Tennessee Valley in late fall is a phenomenon that evokes memories of earlier times and the fragile balance between nature and humans. The eerie solitude is ripe with the sounds of birds and wildlife foraging alongside waterways and woodlands.
Harken back to the time of early settlers, this would be the time of year for hunting wild game to stock larders in preparation for the winter ahead. As the days shortened, early settlers would use the light of the “hunter’s moon” to hunt and gather food. Nuts, dried fruits, and meat were critical to a family’s survival on the frontier.
Few of us today know the imperative of preparing for a long winter. The modern convenience of grocery stores and seasonal produce year round has dulled our senses of what life was like for our forefathers. For those that shop local farmer markets, the season is marked by changing offerings. Spring means greens; summer is corn and tomatoes; fall brings squashes, cabbage, and fruits; winter markets mimic cold storage or larder foods, offering onions, potatoes, apples, cheeses, and meats.
On October 20, the Hunters Moon will light our skies. There is a bounty still to be discovered in the woodlands. Look for pecans, walnuts, and chestnuts for your holiday treats. Pinecones and grape vines are a natural way to decorate for the upcoming holidays.
Hunters will be hunting deer and turkey. When you are in the woods, respect hunting hours and bag limits. Ethical hunters provide a valuable conservation service on public lands. Regulated hunting is the driving force that maintains abundant wildlife and protects large tracts of public lands and wilderness.
This is a special time of year to appreciate all that nature provides us….by the light of the Hunter’s Moon.
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