Environment of Tennessee facts for kids

Tennessee is a cool state in the Southeast United States. It has many different kinds of land! For government, Tennessee is split into three big parts: East, Middle, and West Tennessee. The land itself also has three main types: flat river valleys, rolling hills and dips (basins), and tall mountains.

Exploring Tennessee's Nature Centers

Tennessee has awesome places called nature centers. They help us learn about the environment. Some are the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Lichterman Nature Center, and Owl's Hill Nature Center. Many more nature centers are all over the state. In the capital city of Nashville, you can find Beaman Park Nature Center, Bells Bend Outdoor Center, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, and Warner Park Natural Center. These centers are great for exploring nature!

Amazing Plants of Tennessee

Tennessee is home to many unique plants. These plants are often called "flora." Here are some special ones you might find:

• Astragalus bibullatus
• Eriogonum longifolium var. harperi
• Isoetes lacustris
• Rock gnome lichen
• Sarracenia oreophila
• Utricularia inflata
• Utricularia radiata

Tall Trees of Tennessee

Tennessee also has many different kinds of trees. Some of the notable trees include:

• Abies fraseri (Fraser Fir)
• Ulmus serotina (September Elm)

Understanding Climate Change in Tennessee

Global warming is a big topic that people have been talking about for a long time. It refers to the Earth's average temperature slowly getting warmer. This has been a focus since 1992, when countries started working together on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Scientists have seen some changes in Tennessee because of this warming. One important area affected is the Ohio-Tennessee Basin. This is a large area where water collects and flows into rivers.

How Climate Change Affects the Ohio-Tennessee Basin

Some changes seen in the Ohio-Tennessee Basin include:

• The water getting too many nutrients. This can harm aquatic life.
• The size of the basin's surface area getting smaller.
• More pollution in the water. This makes the water less healthy.

Tennessee's Efforts to Address Climate Change

Tennessee has taken steps to help with climate change. Here are some key actions:

• A special group was formed to create a new energy plan for the state. This plan aims to make Tennessee's energy use more efficient.
• Another group works to make Tennessee a leader in biofuels. Biofuels are fuels made from plants, like corn or algae. The goal is to use less gasoline and more clean fuels.
• A law passed in 2007 asked all state agencies and schools to make plans. These plans aim to reduce how much gasoline their vehicles use by 20%. This helps lower pollution and save energy.