The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a more than 400,000-acre wetland supporting hundreds of plant and animal species, is set to be nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Department of the Interior announced today.
Defenders of Wildlife Senior Policy Analyst Christian Hunt released the following statement:
“To call the Okefenokee an essential ecosystem goes without saying, but we will proudly say it anyway. The nomination is a well-deserved recognition of the wild character, incredible biodiversity and cultural significance that define the largest blackwater wetland in North America. At a time when the Okefenokee is under threat by mining interests, this nomination reminds us that we are talking about one of the most significant ecosystems in the world.”
If designated, the Okefenokee would join a list of 1,223 cultural and natural sites of universal importance alongside the likes of the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall in China.
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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