In Appalachia, the history, use, and ownership of land is central to achieving a just transition from an extraction-based economy to one that ensures that Appalachian communities can thrive. Working closely with faculty with long-standing ties to the community, the AJRC explores how university resources can be leveraged to support both the environmental and economic needs in the region.
Land Justice Projects
Addressing Heirs’ Property in Rural Tennessee and Beyond
With the support of a UT Grand Challenge grant, an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students spanning law, sociology, geography, and landscape architecture are working alongside Woodland Community Land Trust and Southern Connected Communities Project in the Clearfork Valley of Tennessee to focus on the complex legal and social landscape surrounding heirs’ property—land passed down through generations without clear titles, often leaving owners vulnerable to land loss and economic stagnation. The team is documenting the specific heirs’ property issues in the region – via oral histories interviews that illuminate the personal, historical, and cultural significance of these properties – and generating resources, such as a legal resource guide, that will enable rural communities in our region to resolve heirs’ property issues in their communities.