SECAS brings together public and private organizations around a bold vision for the future of our region. We're connecting the lands and waters of the Southeast and Caribbean to support healthy ecosystems, thriving fish and wildlife populations, and vibrant communities. With a data-driven spatial plan and an ambitious regional goal, SECAS helps accelerate conservation action in the places where it will make the biggest impact.
From the blog
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Falkland State Conservation Area and Southside Savanna Natural Area Preserve in Halifax County, formerly known as Falkland Farms. Photo from VA DCR press release. Largest Piedmont savanna in the Eastern United States now protected and to be managed by Virginia Natural Heritage Program
Grassland and savanna ecosystems continue to be the most off-track for achieving the SECAS goal. That said, there are also many bright spots and exciting success stories across the Southeast. One of those bright spots was made possible by the largest private land donation ever to the state of Virginia. Now the largest Piedmont savanna in the Eastern United States is not only protected, but will be managed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. So many people put the hard work into making this happen and this is a big win for conservation.
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Part of the Wolf River State Forest, this second generation white oak orchard is nearly unduplicated anywhere in the nation. It is part of a cutting-edge research project where hardwood seed orchards are being developed to improve seedling quality and where these same lineages are being tested in out-plantings. The new state forest has several thousand trees in a study that is laying new silvicultural foundations in hardwood forest management. Photo by Annelise Brueher, used with permission of TN Division of Forestry. Celebrating Tennessee’s newest state forest: Wolf River State Forest
Last year, SECAS staff provided Blueprint support to a U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy grant application for the acquisition of a large working forest property in western Tennessee. The Southeast region of the U.S. Forest Service encourages states to cooperate with SECAS and use the Blueprint in their Forest Legacy grant proposals. The grant was successful—to the tune of almost $17 million, leveraged with more than $7 million in state funds and private contributions. As a result, earlier this year we were able to celebrate the acquisition and establishment of Tennessee’s 16th state forest—Wolf River State Forest. Congratulations to the TN Division of Forestry and their partners on this huge conservation success!
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Upcoming webinars in the SECAS Third Thursday Web Forum series. SECAS Fall 2025 webinar schedule announced
Check out the Third Thursday Web Forum schedule for the 2025 fall season! The schedule has fantastic presentations lined up for September, October, and November. SECAS hosts these webinars on the third Thursday of each month at 10 am Eastern time. »Click here for an interactive pdf of the flyer with links to register.
- September 18th, 2025 @ 10 am ET: Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into conservation and restoration: An overview of the SGI Tribal Program. The September presentation by Corlee Thomas-Hill, Tribal Liaison with the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, will provide an overview of the Southeastern Grassland Institute (SGI) Tribal Program, which works to incorporate Indigenous ecological knowledge into SGI’s conservation and restoration projects and ensure that tribal priorities are considered in all aspects of SGI’s work.
Visit the SECAS blog for a full archive of posts.