The U.S. Department of the Interior plans to nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The nomination follows a bipartisan effort by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, and Georgia’s congressional delegation members, who urged the Department of the Interior to pursue this prestigious designation. The Department of the Interior plans to submit the nomination to UNESCO in early 2025.
“This is a huge honor for Georgia, a major step forward for the long-term protection of this beloved, beautiful natural resource,” Ossoff said in a release. “This nomination will accelerate the progress of the Okefenokee toward UNESCO World Heritage status, which is one of the most important designations for natural and historic sites globally.”
The World Heritage designation would place the Okefenokee alongside global landmarks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. According to a recent study, UNESCO’s designation of Okefenokee Swamp Park as a World Heritage Site could double visitor numbers, create about 750 long-term jobs, and deliver an annual economic impact of $60 million.
The Okefenokee Swamp, which covers more than 400,000 acres in Southeast Georgia, is the largest blackwater swamp in North America and a critical habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including endangered species such as the indigo snake and the red-cockaded woodpecker.
The Okefenokee is significant to Native American tribes, including the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Refuge contains at least 74 Native American mounds and is recognized as a traditional cultural property for its relevance to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s culture.