An important Georgia landmark would be deemed a site having outstanding universal value under a resolution sponsored on June 23 by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA).
Specifically, House Resolution 549 would name the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, which would increase conservation, tourism, federal funding opportunities, and international protections for the site.
“The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a fixture of Georgia’s First Congressional District and is deserving of this distinction,” Rep. Carter said. “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.”
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a wetland that protects over 400,000 acres in south Georgia on the border with Florida where hundreds of different animal species inhabit the refuge, including endangered species such as the indigo snake and the red-cockaded woodpecker, according to the text of the resolution.
The refuge has 400,000 visitors a year, playing a vital role in the economy of south Georgia, and according to a 2019 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge created $64.7 million in revenue for the local economies.
UNESCO grants World Heritage Site status to places of significance, including cultural and historical landmarks, the text says, adding that the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been on a temporary list for gaining this status since 2007.
If enacted, the resolution would urge UNESCO to create Georgia’s first World Heritage Site among the 24 currently located across the United States.