Task 1: Project Management Task 2: Research & Analysis Evaluate and Understand Davidson County's Ecosystems, Natural Features, Communities, and Green Infrastructure Identify present-day conditions and trends. Review conservation planning strategies, best practices, and precedents. Engage with communities to understand diverse narratives regarding development pressures, land conservation objectives, and environmental equity. Engage with advocacy groups and stakeholders to utilize research and expertise in pertinent subject matter. Project Conservation, Environmental Resiliency, and Equity Needs for the County Engage with communities to develop conservation goals and objectives. Synthesize conservation and environmental priorities that consider population growth projections, equity, infrastructure needs, and climate change. Task 3: Design Development and Testing Develop a Conservation Toolkit Evaluation of tools and best practices of land conservation, including land acquisition, tax abatements, conservation easements, policy and zoning changes, design guidelines, etc. including federal, state, and local tools and opportunities. Methodology and consideration for prioritization of tools and practices Design Implementation Framework with Phasing Strategy Recommend 3-5 pilot projects that can serve as catalysts for future work. Define and prioritize a suite of policy and programmatic recommendations including (but not limited to) land acquisition, policy, and zoning changes, design guidelines, etc. Evaluate funding opportunities. Create a phasing strategy. Task 4: Highland Rim Forest Case Study Investigation Highland Rim Forest Case Study Investigation Outline regional conservation approaches, given that only a portion of the Highland Rim Forest sits within Davidson County. Utilize the countywide work (Tasks 1 and 2) to design a conservation strategy specific to the Highland Rim Forest. This should be a more detailed, in-depth, and site-specific analysis than Tasks 1 and 2. Identify 3-5 pilot projects and a suite of policy or programmatic priorities to serve as catalysts for conservation specifically of the Highland Rim Forest in Davidson County. Define implementation considerations and next steps—e.g. if land acquisition is recommended for conserving the Highland Rim, how should that work? Task 5: Products and Deliverables Executive Summary (8-12 pages) Create a graphically compelling summary report (and/or interactive website), intended for a lay audience. Technical Report (30+ pages) Create a technical report, intended for utilization by Metro staff and technical consultants.
