Swan Conservation Trust

SWAN TRUST HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT WITH A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT, UNPAID BOARD THAT HAS PRESERVED, PROTECTED, AND RESTORED NATIVE HARDWOOD FORESTS, BIODIVERSITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND WATER QUALITY ON THE TN WESTERN HIGHLAND RIM FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. IN 2022, SWAN TRUST PURCHASED 141 ACRES, INCREASING OUR PRESERVED LAND TO 1,500 ACRES. VOLUNTEERS WORK TO ELIMINATE INVASIVE SPECIES AND MONITOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH HIKES, NEWSLETTERS, BIOBLITZ, AND CHILDRENS PROGRAMS ON CLIMATE CHANGE, PLANT, ANIMAL AND INSECT BIODIVERSITY.

SWAN TRUSTS PRESERVATION PROGRAM INCLUDES LAND ACQUISITIONS AND THE PREPARATION, FILING, AND MONITORING OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VOLUNTEERS PERFORM ALL THE WORK ON GRANT PROPOSALS, EASEMENTS, STEWARDSHIP, AND MONITORING OF THE 1,500-ACRE BIG SWAN HEADWATERS PRESERVE AND 100-ACRE HIGHLAND WOODS PRESERVE.

SWAN TRUSTS PROTECTION PROGRAM INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO PROMOTE PROTECTION OF TENNESSEES WESTERN HIGHLAND RIM THROUGH PLANT, BIRD, ARTHROPOD, AND AMPHIBIAN IDENTIFICATION HIKES, NEWSLETTERS, AND CHILDRENS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS.SWAN TRUST PRESENTED 7 EVENTS BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER WITH EXPERTS IN BOTANY, BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, ORNITHOLOGY, AND BIODIVERSITY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. A CALENDAR OF THESE EVENTS WAS PRINTED AND MAILED TO 600 RESIDENTS OF TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY AND ALABAMA AND POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. ON 8/12/23, SWAN TRUST ORGANIZED A PANEL OF EXPERTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO EXPLORE THE BIODIVERSITY OF ONE OF THE RARE PRAIRIE BARRENS IN TENNESSEE, NEAR BIG SWAN HEADWATERS PRESERVE, BY IDENTIFYING AND COUNTING BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, DAMSELFLIES, AND DRAGONFLIES. DATA IS COMPILED FOR FUTURE POPULATION MONITORING.IN 2023, SWAN TRUSTS VOLUNTEER BIOLOGIST MET WITH STUDENTS IN A LOCAL SCHOOL ON FIVE OCCASIONS TO PERFORM FALL SEED COLLECTIONS, PULL INVASIVE PLANTS, EXPLORE A WETLAND, AND LEARN ABOUT BIRDS. SHE ALSO MET WITH THE COOL SPRINGS MONTESSORI SCHOOL TO COLLECT MACROINVERTEBRATES IN THE SOUTH HARPETH RIVER AND TEACH ABOUT WATER QUALITY IN EDWIN WARNER PARK. SHE ALSO MET WITH THE CHILDRENS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, WATER WALKERS,TO EXPLORE WATER QUALITY OF LICK CREEK IN HICKMAN COUNTY. SWAN TRUST VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED TUBS OF MACROINVERTEBRATES FROM BIG SWAN CREEK AT THE HOHENWALD OCTOBER HERITAGE FESTIVAL TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT BIODIVERSITY AND WATER QUALITY.

SWAN TRUSTS RESTORATION PROGRAM INCLUDES ELIMINATION OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND STEWARDSHIP OF ITS 1500 ACRES. IN 2022, SWAN TRUST PURCHASED 141 ACRES APPRAISED AT $280,000 INCREASING ITS PRESERVED LAND TO 1,500 ACRES. IN 2023, VOLUNTEERS WORKED ON THE NEWLY PURCHASED LAND TO ELIMINATE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON MARCH 11, AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 8, SEPTEMBER 23, AND NOVEMBER 18, 2023. ALL LABOR AND EQUIPMENT WERE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.