For generations, the Okefenokee has been one of Georgia’s greatest treasures.
It is a place where families have hunted, fished and paddled beneath towering cypress trees. It is home to remarkable wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next.
For generations, the Okefenokee has drawn everyone from sportsmen to conservationists alike. Along the way, it even lured Burt Reynolds to the swamp.
Now, the rest of the world has taken notice.
On July 25, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becoming Georgia’s first property to receive the distinction.
It now stands alongside places such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef and the Serengeti, affirming what Georgians have long known: The Okefenokee is one of the world’s great natural treasures.
Conservation is good public stewardship
Credit: Georgia
Credit: Georgia
We didn’t protect the Okefenokee because we hoped the world would notice. We protected it because it belongs to Georgia, and because we believe some places are worth passing on better than we found them.
We were never seeking recognition. We were fulfilling a responsibility. The fact that the world now recognizes the Okefenokee’s significance is not validation of our stewardship, but a recognition of it — and something every Georgian can celebrate.
The timing makes that recognition even more meaningful.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we have rightly reflected on the courage of our Founding Fathers and the principles that built the greatest nation on Earth. But our inheritance is more than the freedoms they secured. It is also the land that has shaped generations of Americans.
Here in Georgia, that heritage stretches from the Appalachian Mountains to the Golden Isles. Our forests, rivers, farms and wetlands have sustained rural communities, strengthened our economy and provided the backdrop for countless family traditions.
They are places where children learn to fish, hunters pass down traditions and families develop a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.
That is why conservation has never been a partisan cause. It is simply good stewardship.
New visitors will encounter an extraordinary landscape
Responsible conservation recognizes that economic prosperity and protecting our natural resources are not competing priorities. They strengthen one another. Healthy forests support Georgia’s timber industry. Clean rivers sustain agriculture and recreation. Well-managed public lands create opportunities for tourism, hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation that support jobs across our state.
Few places embody that truth better than the Okefenokee.
Already one of Georgia’s most visited natural attractions, the refuge supports businesses and communities across southeast Georgia. Its new World Heritage designation will introduce even more visitors to one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes, creating new opportunities for economic growth while encouraging continued stewardship of this remarkable place.
That same commitment to stewardship also guided the General Assembly when we passed Senate Bill 148 earlier this year. By creating new outdoor learning opportunities, the bill will give Georgia’s children a deeper appreciation for places like the Okefenokee — and the responsibility that comes with inheriting them. Protecting Georgia’s natural treasures is not just about preserving them today; it is about preparing the next generation to care for them tomorrow.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The Okefenokee now belongs to a short list of places recognized around the globe.
But first, it belongs to Georgia.
Its future will not be determined by an international designation. It will be determined by whether we continue the work of responsible stewardship that earned this recognition in the first place.
That responsibility belongs to all of us.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and this remarkable recognition for our state, we have every reason to be proud. Proud that Georgia is home to one of the world’s great natural treasures. Proud that those before us protected it. And proud that we can do the same.
Because in the end, that is what stewardship has always meant.
Leaving something worth inheriting.
Georgia state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, serves as Senate majority leader. He represents the 31st Senate District, which includes Polk County and a portion of Paulding County.
Send letters to the editor of 250 words or fewer with your name, city or town and contact information to letters@ajc.com.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
