Wild ginseng grows naturally in some of Tennessee's state parks, and it's protected by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation.
A healthy ecosystem is a diverse one, and plants are critical to maintaining that diversity.
For rare and endangered plants in Middle Tennessee, conservation can be challenging to manage. Native species often struggle to keep pace with invasive plants, and continuing development threatens to reduce green space.
This hour we go on a hike in search of wild ginseng, meet some of the people working to preserve the plants that make our region unique, and learn what each of us can do to keep our local flora thriving.
But first, WPLN health care reporter Blake Farmer has the latest on monkeypox in Middle Tennessee
Guests:
- Blake Farmer, WPLN senior health care reporter
- Kim Bailey, former staff naturalist at Warner Parks
- Isaac Santos, program coordinator with Friends of Shelby Park
- Roger McCoy, director of conservation at Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- Cooper Breeden, plant conservation manager at Southeastern Grasslands Initiative and coordinator of Tennessee Plant Conservation Alliance
Additional episodes and resources:
- Tennessee State Parks: Division of Natural Areas – Events
- National Wildlife Foundation: Keystone Native Plants for Ecoregion 8
- Homegrown National Park
- Wild Ones: Middle Tennessee Chapter
- This Is Nashville: Emerald ash borers, privet and stink bugs… oh my!
- This Is Nashville: Exploring the future of green space in Nashville on Earth Day
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM