Okefenokee Swamp Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage List: What It Means for Georgia

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, the largest unspoiled blackwater swamp in North America, is being nominated for the United Nations’ World Heritage List. This is a big step toward global recognition of the swamp, which is home to many plants and animals, just as plans for a nearby titanium mine move closer to approval.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced the nomination on Friday. The process started in 2023 when the National Park Service was asked to prepare the case. If accepted, the Okefenokee would join famous sites like the Great Barrier Reef and Yellowstone National Park.

For the swamp to be added to the list, a group of representatives from 21 countries must confirm it has global natural and cultural importance. Currently, there are 1,223 World Heritage sites worldwide, including 26 in the U.S. The next steps include a public comment period and a review process that usually takes about 18 months. The U.S. can only submit one site for consideration each year.

The Okefenokee spans 407,000 acres, making it the largest wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. It is home to endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker and wood stork and stores massive amounts of carbon, helping to slow climate change. The swamp also feeds two major rivers: the Suwannee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico, and the St. Marys River, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland praised the nomination, saying it highlights the swamp’s incredible value and the work of local communities and tribes to protect it over the years.

In 2022, Haaland visited the swamp with Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, who has been pushing for its nomination and opposing a titanium mine proposed near the swamp. Twin Pines Minerals, the company behind the mine, says their project won’t harm the swamp, but environmental groups and scientists are skeptical.

Ossoff called the nomination a huge honor for Georgia and urged state officials to protect the swamp, warning that allowing the mine would be a historic mistake. Twin Pines is still waiting for final permits from Georgia’s environmental agency.

This article is supported by Green South Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. Learn more or donate to support climate reporting at ajc.com/donate/climate.

 

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