Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet: that’s the Sierra Club motto, and has been since their formation in 1892.
It was created to protect communities, wild places and wildlife, and the planet as a whole. Although its headquarters rests in Oakland, the club has chapters and groups statewide. We have five groups in our Tennessee chapter, with the Cherokee group based here in Chattanooga.
Their Facebook group proudly boasts that they are “the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots organization in the United States,” and they further explain on their website that they “work to protect the natural world via education, advocacy of issues, support of local political candidates who support our goals...[and] enhancing appreciation of the outdoors through our outings and programs.”
You don’t have to be a Sierra Club member to participate in their outings—all events are open to the public, including their upcoming seminar on climate change.
Climate change is no secret, but this Monday, the Cherokee Group is sponsoring a seminar detailing how it will affect Tennessee wildlife in particular. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, National Wildlife Federation, and Nature Conservancy completed an assessment in 2015 on potential impacts to wildlife and their habitats from the changes predicted within the next century.
TWRA Chief of Biodiversity Bill Reeves will discuss the report, including updates for 2016. The event will take place at green|spaces at 7 p.m. Like all Sierra Club events, it’ll be free of charge, and there will be snacks. Healthy snacks.