Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge

Right now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is making a decision: Does it expand protections for the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge? Or, does it cede ground and open the door to more mining?1
We know what the wetlands, the vulnerable wildlife, and the diverse plant species that call the Okefenokee home deserve.
That's why we're calling on the FWS to expand the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge's protected lands during this critical comment period. Will you join us? Add your name.
If you went to the Okefenokee today, you'd see some of the world's most significant freshwater wetlands -- a haven for vulnerable gopher tortoises, amphibians, and red-cockaded woodpeckers.2
On the edge of the Okefenokee, you'd see Trail Ridge, an ancient dune that serves as a dam protecting the wetlands. Below the surface of Trail Ridge though, dangerous plans to mine have been brewing for years.
Right now, the FWS is proposing plans to expand the Okefenokee's protections to include Trail Ridge, paving the path to potentially conserving these vital lands.The agency is only accepting public comments until Nov. 18.
Will you help protect these lands? During this critical comment period, call on the FWS to expand the Okefenokee's boundaries today.
The FWS's proposal would increase the Okefenokee's protected lands by 22,000 acres. What's 22,000 acres in the scheme of things?
These 22,000 acres include the Trail Ridge dune, which protects the underground flow of water at the heart of the Okefenokee. One expert even said, "Without Trail Ridge, there is no Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge."3
Failing to expand these protections could mean no Trail Ridge, no Okefenokee, and no home for the animals that depend on this ecological wonder.
As the FWS makes its decision, to us, the choice is clear: Call on the FWS to expand protections to Trail Ridge and protect the Okefenokee today.
Thank you,
The Environmental Action team
1. "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Seeking Public Input on Proposal for Minor Expansion of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Boundary," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 18, 2024.
2. "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Seeking Public Input on Proposal for Minor Expansion of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Boundary," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 18, 2024.
3. Emily Jones, Marisa Mecke, and Molly Samuel, "Boundary expansion proposed for Okefenokee amid mining debate," WABE, October 18, 2024.
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