6 minute read
ON THE MOVE
preservation progress
The Forever Wild Land Trust has acquired title to approximately 195,000 acres and secured public recreational access to more than an additional 60,000 acres of land pursuant to long-term lease agreements, equaling a total of approximately 255,000 acres.
Chris Blakenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and executive secretary of the Forever Wild Board, explains the program’s purpose, how it is funded, the progress it has made and why it matters.
Why is Forever Wild important?
Blakenship: Alabama is home to a rich diversity of natural areas having unique ecological systems, plant and animal life, geological formations and wildlife habitats that offer significant recreational opportunities for its citizens and visitors. The Forever Wild program provides funding for the state to acquire land from willing sellers for use as recreation areas, wildlife management areas, state parks and nature preserves. These tracts provide public access that is critical in supporting the natural heritage of Alabama which historically has been—and continues to be—closely tied to outdoor recreation. The program’s success has ensured that the public’s use and enjoyment of these state lands will continue for the benefit of future generations.
Into the calm
How is Forever Wild Land Trust funded?
Blakenship: Funding for the Forever Wild Land Trust (Forever Wild) is generated by interest earned from royalties deposited into the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF) from offshore natural gas leases. Forever Wild receives 10 percent of interest earnings distributed to various ATF beneficiaries, capped at $15 million for any given year. Another source of funding is the Forever Wild Land Trust state license plate.
of the great outdoors
Images courtesy of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
a few spots to set foot /
These are just a few of the amazing areas and sites accessible to the public thanks to Forever Wild.
The Walls of Jericho:
This tract in north Alabama and its box canyon of sheer rock walls is one of the state’s most popular natural wonders. Part of the James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area, it hosts many deer and turkey hunters, but as with other properties, it is also managed for multiple uses. Visitors can enjoy an impressive recreational trail system offering 11.7 miles of hiking trails and 11 miles of horseback riding trails that also includes designated primitive camping areas. The Cumberland Plateau hardwood forest found on the tract also provides conservation protection to numerous sensitive species.
The Upper Delta, Mobile-Tensaw Delta and W. L. Holland Wildlife Management Areas:
At the south end of the state, in these areas, visitors experience a nationally recognized range of ecological diversity in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This complex of tracts provides protection to a unique headwater and bottomland hardwood ecosystem while at the same time offering vast recreational activities that include hunting, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, camping, hiking and horseback riding.
Coldwater Mountain:
This tract near Anniston currently contains 35 miles of biking trails created in partnership with the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association and North Alabama Bicycle Association. Hiking is also permitted on this tract. In addition, it offers protection to the dry mountain longleaf pine ecosystem and directly protects a large portion of the watershed of the municipal water source, Coldwater Spring.
What positives has Forever Wild brought the state since its inception?
Blakenship: The Forever Wild Land Trust has proven to be an important component of state efforts to respond to the loss of land available for public hunting and outdoor recreation. Since its inception, Forever Wild has secured the protection of over 255,000 acres of unique and diverse ecologically rich ecosystems that broaden the type and amount of recreational property available for the public’s use. As a result, Alabama’s public lands and waters support increasing recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, camping and wildlife watching. Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation delivers a direct benefit to the state’s economic bottom line. In fact, a recent study by the Trust for Public Land shows that every $1 invested in land conservation through Forever Wild has returned $5 in natural goods and services to the state. The study also highlighted that tourists and residents generate $7.5 billion annually in consumer spending related to outdoor recreation. This spending then generates approximately $494 million in tax revenues for the state and further supports 86,000 jobs. (Source: Trust
According to The U.S. Fish for Public Land Report: and Wildlife Service, hunting “Alabama’s Return on and fishing activities alone have Investment in Forever a $2.6 billion dollar economic impact on Alabama and Wild,” TPL.org.) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also comsupport more than piled figures demonstrat35,000 jobs. ing that hunting and fishing activities alone have a $2.6 billion dollar economic impact on Alabama and support more than 35,000 jobs in our state. If just wildlife watching is added, the economic impact of these three specific activities increases to approximately $3.9 billion dollars annually. (Source for these figures: “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation.”)
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PRODUCTS &Gear
GET AN EYEFUL OF THESE PRODUCTS AND PLACES WE LOVE.
PINK YOUR RIDE
STICKY SWEET HEAT
Pepper jelly is a pretty common condiment in Alabama, but 5ive Oaks is already moving to the head of the pack with its blend of red bell, habanero and jalapeno peppers combined according to owner Tim Murphy’s family recipe. He and his wife Heather turned the tradition into a business in early 2016. Based on the favorite spread made by his grandmother, 5ive Oaks is handmade and packaged in small batches to ensure optimum quality. The couple often eats the jelly the oldfashioned way, spooned over a block of soft cream cheese and scooped up with a cracker, but they’ve found other ways to enjoy its bright, well balanced heatmeets-sweet too. “We’ve also added the jelly to recipes with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp and even sauteed vegetables,” Heather said. Find it in grocery stores in and around Birmingham, at The Alabama Gift Company in Gadsden or order it off Amazon.com
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COLOR CALLING
Soon, leaves on trees across our state will be trading their verdant hues for all variations of scarlet, orange and gold. A drive along Scenic Route 281 in eastern Alabama is one of our favorite spots to gawk at some fab fall foliage. The 26-mile journey on this designated Alabama Scenic Byway starts on the southern end at Cheaha State Park (which contains our state’s highest point atop Mount Cheaha) and winds its way across and through the foothills of the Appalachians and the Talladega National Forest, boasting one panoramic view after another.
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Check out this image in their feed for 12 places to take in the beauty of Alabama's changing leaves this season.
TAKE LEAVE
Adventure calls when the air gets crisp. Tag along for a virtual escape to quiet spots or greasy spoons via the @roadtrip_alabama Instagram feed.
