The Alabama River Diversity Network is a growing collaborative that focuses on reclaiming and revitalizing the Alabama River corridor, with special attention to the Black Belt—a region once rich with cotton wealth, now grappling with poverty, neglected infrastructure, and environmental challenges. Despite these struggles, it is a land of remarkable diversity—both natural and human. Spanning 7 million acres across 23 counties, it is home to the greatest variety of turtles in the western hemisphere, more fish species than any similarly sized national river, and likely the most mussels, aquatic snails, and crawfish in the world. This ecological richness mirrors the region’s cultural diversity as the homeland of Indigenous tribes, a historic hub of African American life, and the birthplace of key Civil Rights events like the Selma to Montgomery marches. ARDN seeks to preserve and strengthen this dual diversity—natural and human—by connecting local communities to their unique history and landscape, fostering a future rooted in pride, resilience, and renewal.
Working across Alabama’s river counties since 2009, ARDN focuses on conservation, historic preservation, cultural tourism, and community leadership. With two paid staff and a small team of volunteers, ARDN collaborates with more than 25 long-term partners to protect the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage. Its efforts helped secure the 2023 designation of 19 Black Belt counties—an area the size of New Jersey—as a National Heritage Area. This recognition supports the creation of green spaces that preserve wildlife while providing recreation and learning opportunities for local residents. In 2024, ARDN received a Confluence Grant to launch At the Heart of the Alabama River, a project helping five counties rethink how public lands are used and managed. By centering the voices of people most affected by long-term neglect and disinvestment, ARDN helps ensure that local communities shape the future of their land. As a sponsored initiative of The Ocean Foundation, ARDN brings national resources to deeply rooted local efforts.
Remnants of a historical site. Photo Courtesy of Alabama River Diversity Network