Okefenokee mining threat no more

I could sense the tears building up in my eyes as I read the news. Then, the tears began to stream down my cheeks. I could no longer hold back the river of relief and pure joy that I was feeling. Mining near the land that trembles when you walk on it, the Okefenokee Swamp, is no longer a threat. The Conservation Fund, (TCF) a national nonprofit organization, has reached an agreement with Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals to purchase 7,700 acres near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

The $60 million deal was a huge undertaking, according to Stacey Funderburke, the Conservation Fund’s vice president for the central Southeast. Funderburke said, “We’ve done larger deals for larger acres; but dollar-wise this is the largest deal we’ve ever done in Georgia.”

According to the TCF website, “An area so rich in natural resources is bound to attract activities that could potentially cause it harm.” In the 1990s, TCF purchased 16,000 acres near the Okefenokee Swamp from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. DuPont had plans to mine the site. Concern over degradation to the region's water quality and the nearby Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge prompted DuPont to donate all 16,000 acres to TCF. This transfer included timber rights and recreational rights, which were held by International Paper.

In 2005, TCF transferred nearly 7,000 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an addition to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This transfer included a conservation easement on the property to the Georgia Wildlife Federation, ensuring future protection.

TCF envisions an America where nature and land are valued. They consider themselves experts when it comes to conserving large tracts of land. They believe it is important to make conservation work for communities and natural spaces across the country. They accomplish this goal by “shaping innovative solutions and enduring partnership with communities, government and business, and by making sure that every conservation dollar delivers maximum impact.”

How fortunate we are to have groups such as the TCF in this country. I am grateful for their foresight and tenacity. Their work will help to protect the entire watershed of the Okefenokee Swamp, headwaters of the St. Marys River.

Think of all the plants and animals that will have a secure place to thrive. Think about those of us who live within the watershed of the St. Marys River. We no longer need to worry about mining pollution adding to existing water quality problems. This is a great gift. And, I am forever grateful to TCF for their heroic efforts to protect this treasure located right in our own backyard.

I have made many trips to the Okefenokee Swamp over the years. I have taken hundreds of photographs of the unique flora and fauna found in the swamp. I have gazed into the heavens over the swamp on dark, moonless nights at the magnificent Milky Way. I have floated through prairies of wildflowers and become intoxicated by their fragrance. Witnessing the swinging of the pines on a windy, cloudless winter day is breathtaking. Listening to the symphony of sound that emerges from swamp is so uplifting to me. The music changes tone and tempo by the light of the day and seasons of the year. The swamp is nothing short of glorious.

Over the past two years, I have written several articles about the Okefenokee Swamp. My favorite stories about the swamp include one about the historical uses of the swamp and the other is about visiting the swamp in the summer heat to see swamp lilies in bloom. What a special trip! Both articles are listed below for you to enjoy once again.

I want everyone to know how priceless the Okefenokee Swamp and St Marys River is to me and all the plants and animals that live there. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the TCF for this incredible present. Long live the swamp!

A Magical Day in a Very Hot Swamp

Okefenokee: The Swamp Next Door That Is a National Treasure