Okefenokee Swamp Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Statement from TNC in Georgia Executive Director Monica Thornton
The Nature Conservancy in Georgia is thrilled that UNESCO has officially recognized Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as one of the most incredible natural places anywhere in the world.
As a World Heritage Site, now one of just 27 in the United States, the Okefenokee Swamp joins other iconic natural places like the Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef, and Yellowstone National Park as a landscape worth protecting and sharing with the rest of the world.
Now, it falls to us in Georgia to ensure the Okefenokee is protected for the benefit of the people who enjoy it and the hundreds of species that call it home. Ever since The Nature Conservancy helped conserve 15,000 acres of the swamp in 1978, we have worked to preserve this pristine ecosystem for people and nature alike.
This designation confirms what all of us in Georgia have always known - there is no other place on the planet quite like the Okefenokee Swamp.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.