Gov. Bill Lee, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), has announced the establishment of the Office of Outdoor Recreation aimed at enhancing conservation efforts and boosting access to Tennessee's outdoor spaces. The announcement came during the second annual Tennessee Conservation Summit in Nashville, where stakeholders convened to set conservation priorities and map out strategies.“This office will help us leverage Tennessee’s unparallelled natural resources and beauty to improve our quality of life and create lasting memories for Tennessee families and visitors,” Lee said, as reported by the state's official website.

Appointee Brian Clifford will head the new department which will operate from TDEC's base in Nashville. The office is founded on existing resources, aimed to advance state conservation efforts without expanding government size. Among the key initiatives, Clifford highlighted the governor's Tennessee Blueways plan, which focuses on developing high-quality water trails throughout the state. Clifford stated, "Tennessee is blessed with world-class rivers and fisheries, and our communities across this state, particularly rural areas, want better access to these unique waterways." With an already established outdoor recreation economy valued at $11.9 billion, the state looks to nurture this sector even further.

Conservation efforts are central to Gov. Lee's broader strategy that includes creating new parks and improving state waterways, underscored by the belief that conservation can drive economic success, especially in rural communities. By protecting natural resources and enhancing quality of life, the expectation is to also improve state residents' health. "The governor and the legislature have given us the means and leadership to make conservation a priority across the state," TDEC Commissioner David Salyers told attendees, confirming the administration's commitment to these efforts.

The creation of this office also aligns with the national understanding of the significance of the outdoor recreation economy, which has an estimated value of $1.1 trillion. Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, praised the initiative, saying, "The new office will take Tennessee’s $11.9 billion outdoor recreation economy to the next level and help promote strong relationships between agencies and with communities of all sizes to connect Tennessee’s residents to the great outdoors. We can’t wait to support their future work and watch the economic, health, and community benefits this new office will create," according to the same announcement.