by Megan Valandingham
The Chimney Tops part of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park
The video, " Gatlinburg to Cherokee 441," provides a small travel guide and nature tour of US Hwy 411. Running through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina.
The Appalachian Region is a diverse area, filled with a grand variety of animal and plant life, and is home to various indigenous groups of people. However, there are growing modern threats, such as urban development, and the consequences of climate change that are beginning to alter the nature of the region.
In 2016, the Great Smokey Mountains wildfires devastated the area for nearly a month. 17,900 acres were burned down, 2,460 structures were destroyed, and 14 lives were lost between November 28 and December 22. And what was the cause? Arson was committed by two juveniles. This devastated not only the East region but the state of Tennessee as a whole, as it slowly continued to heal its scars eight years later. It can still be seen in The Chimney Tops part of the Great Smokey Mountains.
The Nature Conservancy says;
"We cannot afford to lose the Appalachians. If we continue to take the Appalachians for granted, we stand to lose a magnitude of species, the fight against climate change, and the security, provisions, and benefits this landscape promises to future generations. We must act now to protect and restore the Appalachians before we lose what we cannot replace."
Conserving nature within the Appalachian Region dates to nearly one hundred years ago. In May of 1926, President Coolidge signed Bill 11287, purchasing 150,000 acres, which established the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and the Shenandoah National Park.
The construction of the parks began in 1931 and ended in 1942.
During that period, in 1940, President Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smokey Mountains National Park "for the permanent enjoyment of the people," according to the National Park Service.
So, where does the conservation begin? How can the residents of the region help the effort? Saving Nature shares four of their unique conservation approaches. Focusing on hot spots, strategic land protection, building resilience with native plant life, and measuring the results. Humans can reduce their carbon footprint, with COTAP sharing some ways that they can achieve this. Alternating driving options and reducing home energy usage.
It is important to keep your home safe, and for some US residents, it is the Appalachian region. To keep such a diverse, culturally and historically rich area alive, humans must cut back on their carbon footprint and find ways to protect the land from any more devastation.
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