Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced a resolution to name the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site (WHS), which will increase conservation, tourism, federal funding opportunities, and international protections for this important Georgia landmark.
UNESCO grants WHS status to places of significance, including cultural and historical landmarks. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been on a temporary list for gaining this status since 2007. If the resolution is adopted, it would urge UNESCO to create Georgia’s first WHS, adding to the 24 currently located in the United States.
“The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a fixture of Georgia’s First Congressional District and is deserving of this distinction,” said Rep. Carter. “No one loves the environment more than south Georgians and we are eager to share the Okefenokee Swamp’s beauty with the rest of the world, so that we can continue to appreciate and preserve this landmark for generations to come.”
Read the full resolution text here.
Read more about UNESCO World Heritage Sites here.
