A federal agency has approved an expansion of the Okefenokee Swamp’s vast wildlife refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a plan to expand the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a move that could help protect the swamp’s fragile ecosystem and potentially prevent a controversial mining project. The plan, announced Friday, would add up to 22,000 acres to the refuge, contingent on voluntary property sales or donations, including land owned by Twin Pines Minerals near the swamp’s boundary.
Twin Pines has been pursuing permits to mine titanium dioxide on 773 acres outside the refuge, sparking years of opposition from conservationists and scientists who warn of irreversible damage to the swamp’s water retention and ecosystem. While the company insists its operations would have minimal impact, environmental groups and the Interior Secretary have expressed grave concerns about the risks posed by mining near the swamp’s rim.
The Okefenokee Swamp, a 630-square-mile refuge straddling the Georgia-Florida line, is home to over 400 species of wildlife and draws 400,000 visitors annually. Its unique bowl-like structure makes it especially sensitive to changes in water levels, which could be exacerbated by mining.
Although Georgia regulators have issued draft permits for the project, final approvals are pending. The refuge expansion plan has heightened hopes among opponents that Twin Pines might agree to sell or donate its land for conservation. However, Twin Pines has stated it expects any land acquisitions to remain voluntary and unrelated to state permitting decisions.
The timing of the expansion, coming as President Joe Bidenβs administration concludes, has raised concerns that the decision could be reversed under a new administration. Still, conservationists view the move as a crucial step in safeguarding one of the Southeast’s most iconic natural treasures.