Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Regional Conservation Partnership in Chattanooga Guides Growth

By Gap Analysis Project

July 17, 2019

Thrive 2055 is a visioning process for the greater Chattanooga, TN region (it’s now Thrive Regional Partnership). It was formed as a conservation alliance among land trusts, watershed conservancies, outdoor recreation groups, and other organizations. 

<< Back to PAD-US Uses Home

The Partnership uses geodesign methods to plan a sustainable future given population growth and conservation priorities with the goal to protect 50% of the region’s remaining habitat cores.

An aerial view of Chattanooga, TN
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
Chattanooga, TN (Permissions from Alan Cressler)

This group did a recent analysis using PAD-US and Esri’s Green Infrastructure Habitat Core Database and identified only 12% of the regions forest cores as protected. “This information is extremely valuable to the foundations and funders in the region as work continues to map and identify priority areas for data-driven conservation efforts” according to Charlie Mix, the GIS Director supporting the Thrive Nature Treasures Alliance.

A similar model was developed for Mainspring Conservation Trust based in Frankin, NC to determine Trust conservation priorities. “These data are used daily to make conservation happen throughout Western, NC” says Charlie Mix, the GIS Director who is supporting mapping efforts.