Our Org

Mission Statement

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee is dedicated to conserving the waters, forests, farms, and heritage of the Upper Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River Valleys. We work in partnership with private landowners, public agencies, and others to conserve land, insuring that the natural beauty, ecological integrity, and rural character of our region are preserved for generations to come.

Nestled within some of the oldest mountains on earth, the upper Little Tennessee River basin, and their surrounding mountain ranges, possesses a unique - yet threatened - natual and cultural heritage.

Our vision is one of a healthy rural landscape and vibrant, sustainable economy situated within a well functioning ecosystem.

This vision recognizes the connectivity of:

• Past land use by Native Americans and European settlers with the current ecological and cultural landscape;

• Patterns of current land use and management with the quality of water in the streams and rivers;

• Maintaining the native biological diversity with the integrity and functioning of the ecosystem across the landscape;

• Ecological health with sustainable economic and social developments; and

• A healthy environment with the quality of life of its people and rural communities.

Our Work

LTLT helps to conserve the landscape of the upper Little Tennessee and Hiwasee River Valleys by accepting gifts of land, by promoting conservation easements and, when resources allow, by purchasing at-risk properties.

LTLT works to restore the landscape through technical advice and the demonstration of sustainable forestry and agriculture, streamside reforestation, invasive exotic plant control, and wetland restoration. We believe that promoting responsible stewardship of our natural resources may ultimately be our most important work.

Our Heritage

The upper Little Tennessee valley is the heart of the Southern Blue Ridge. Nestled within some of the oldest mountains on earth, it has a richer combined natural and cultural history than any other area of its size in the eastern United States. The five great mountain ranges towering over the broad valleys of the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries shelter ancient and magnificent forests, an extraordinary diversity of aquatic and botanical species, and a rural landscape with farmlands that have sustained agriculture for over 4000 years.