The Nature Conservancy in Alabama held an Earth Day dedication for their new Fenvkvcēkv (pronounced finuh-guh-jee-guh) Creek Preserve at Flagg Mountain in Coosa County on Friday, April 19th.

Flagg Mountain is the southernmost peak and start of the 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Mountain range, which is why The Nature Conservancy calls the region one of the most important areas of conservation across the entire globe. They purchased two tracts of land adjacent to Flagg Mountain to establish a 1,000-acre nature preserve.

The name comes from the Muscogee People, originally under the same name who were the first caretakers of the land and is also the original Muscogee name for the bordering Finikochicka Creek.

“Establishing an entirely new preserve in our state is as special as the people and the heritage its acreage and name honors,” said TNC Alabama State Director Mitch Reid. “We couldn’t imagine a better day than Earth Day to dedicate this area and to illustrate our commitment to its preservation for generations to come.”

“This area, specifically, has long been a priority for protection, and through the efforts of The Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund and other partners, the conservation footprint around Flagg Mountain continues to grow, we are privileged to have the opportunity to protect these lands and waters in perpetuity,” Reid said.”

We are especially grateful to The Conservation Fund for donating 315-acres that is being included in the preserve.”

TNC, which is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends, has expanded conservation work on Flagg Mountain and this latest step is the newest in a long line of efforts to protect an area that is deemed so important.