Tennessee is losing 60,000 acres of farmland and natural spaces every year — that's like losing a state park annually. In this episode of the XPLR.NASH Podcast, we sit down with Jon D. B. from TennGreen Land Conservancy to uncover why this is happening and what’s being done to protect Tennessee’s incredible natural landscapes. 🌲🌄From the Cumberland Trail, a 300-mile trail in the making, to the hidden caves beneath Nashville and wildlife making a comeback (like black bears, elk, and bobcats), we explore it all. We also tackle how conservation crosses political and worldview lines — and why everyone should care about the future of Tennessee's land, water, and wildlife.Topics We Cover:✅ Why Tennessee is losing 60,000 acres of agricultural land per year✅ The massive Cumberland Trail project — Tennessee’s first linear state park✅ How land conservancies save land for future generations✅ Tennessee's wildlife resurgence — black bears, elk, bobcats & wild boars✅ Nashville's secret underground caves and saber-tooth cat history✅ The Duck River — one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world✅ How Tennesseans from all backgrounds can work together for conservation✅ What is Hike-a-Thon and how to get involved!Get Involved:➡️ Learn more & join Hike-a-Thon: https://hikeathon.com➡️ Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbdalvy➡️ Check out TennGreen Land Conservancy: https://tenngreen.org👉 Subscribe for more stories about Tennessee's people, parks, history, and wildlife. Let's explore together!