Native Plants and Exotic Pests Initiative
Process:
Partner with National Native Plant Initiative to develop a regional conservation strategy.
Build on educational materials already prepared and distributed or contributed to by SAMAB related to native plants (e.g., Watchable Wildlife posters, Environmental Education and Training directory, Red Wolf Reintroduction, Dogwood Anthracnose, “Water: From the Mountains to the Coast”
Develop native plants outreach approach and increase awareness of 1994 Executive Order and 1995 Guidance for the Presidential Memorandum on Environmentally and Economically Beneficial Landscape Practices on Federal Landscaped Ground.
Support efforts to establish coordinator for the Southern Appalachian.
Products:
- Exhibits on exotic species threats and native plant benefits (tabletop, easily transportable setups; brochures)
- Regional National Species Management Manual (expand/update the Tennessee Plant Species Management Manual and include native plants)
- Native species demonstration plots for residential/commercial landscape and for soil/wildlife conservation
- Listing of recent/ongoing environmental reviews involving exotic species control
- Revised proposal for coordinator (originally Merck Family Fund Proposal)
- Fact sheets on exotic species for use by private landowners, government agencies, garden clubs, environmental education centers, and educators
- Funding: SAMAB Cooperative
Sustainable Development Initiative – Application of Southern Appalachian Assessment Geographic Information System Database for Sustainable Development Planning
Process:
Work with county officials and community leaders to identify major sustainable development issues (e.g., unplanned development, increasing tourism industry)
Provide Southern Appalachian Assessment Geographic Information System data on the indicators identified for eight (8) east Tennessee counties – Knox, Jefferson, Cocke, Sevier, Blount, Loudon, Monroe, and Polk
Product:
- Resource Atlases with data specific to sustainable development planning needs for eight east Tennessee counties
- Geographic Information System training for community decision makers.
- Funding: To be determined
Sustainable Development Initiative – Assist SAMAB Areas in Defining Sustainability Indicators and Tracking Key Trends over Time
Process:
Work with Chattanooga, Tennessee and Roanoke, Virginia to integrate specific Southern Appalachian Assessment information into Geographic Information System databases for these metropolitan areas
Product:
- Community workshop to identify indicators to measure, develop predictive models, and evaluate effectiveness of their planning for sustainability.
- Funding: To be determined
Watershed Initiative – Develop SAMAB Watershed Conservation Clearinghouse
Process:
Contact and coordinate information about funding sources, grants, technical assistance sources from government and non government organizations
Products:
- Booklet with information on funding opportunities
- List of recent and ongoing environmental reviews in several watersheds (Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, Clinch-Powell, Conasauga, and French Broad)
- Develop a SAMAB Web page for the Watershed Initiative Clearinghouse
- Funding: SAMAB Cooperative
Watershed Initiative – Evaluate Potential Regional Effects On Water Resource Management From Climate Change
Process:
Presentation of potential regional strategies for adaptation of water resource management to a changing climate
Product:
- Symposium “Water Resource Management in a Changing Climate,” Spring 1999. Sponsors: American Water Resources Association and SAMAB Cooperative