Planned mining at the the Okefenokee Swamp, which straddles the Georgia-Florida border, would damage the swamp’s water quality and vegetation, reduce water availability and harm federally listed and at-risk wildlife. Twin Pines Minerals aims to mine titanium dioxide, a whitener that could be easily mined elsewhere.
The swamp is one of the last remaining sanctuaries of its kind. These images aim to inspire action to protect it.—Mark Albertin
The bid to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was originally identified as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, and efforts have ramped up again due to the mining threat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a natural or man-made site recognized as being of “outstanding universal value.” There are currently only 12 such natural sites in the United States.
The closest you can get to God, whatever you believe in, is within the earth, within the planet, within the waters.—Mark Albertin
According to the River Basin Center at the University of Georgia, there are 21 habitat types within the Okefenokee Swamp; the diversity of habitat types contributes to high biodiversity with more than 850 plant species and 200 bird species that live within or use the swamp. More than 400 vertebrate species live within or use the swamp for part of their life history. Learn more at protectokefenokee.org.