Hi John,
We have an exciting update on our campaign to protect the Okefenokee Swamp.
A land deal has halted the mining project proposed near the Okefenokee.[1] Cypress trees, black bears and alligators are a little safer today.
The mining company has sold its land and mineral rights to The Conservation Fund, which will keep the Okefenokee safe from mining -- for now. 8,000 acres will be conserved and protected.
The Okefenokee is the largest wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River.[2] It's home to threatened species, including wood storks, indigo snakes and red-cockaded woodpeckers.
But this one-of-a-kind place was threatened by a proposed titanium dioxide mine that would have endangered wildlife and the entire wetland ecosystem.
Mining would create constant noise and generate toxic pollution. It could even drain some of the water from the swamp, which could trigger uncontrollable wildfires, burning up this critical habitat.[3]
And titanium dioxide isn't some critically important mineral -- it's used to make things like powdered donuts and toothpaste look "whiter."
More than 10,000 Georgians and outdoor enthusiasts from Environment America and our national network submitted comments urging Georgia's Environmental Protection Division to deny a permit for the proposed mine. And this summer, our state group Environment Georgia has been knocking on doors to educate the public about the importance of protecting the Okefenokee.
While this land deal stops one mining proposal, the Okefenokee needs permanent protections. There are still nearby private landowners who have expressed interest in mining on the Okefenokee's doorstep, and we can't let that happen.[4]
We'll keep urging Governor Brian Kemp to push for permanent protections for the entire eastern boundary of the Okefenokee and support a UNESCO world heritage designation.
Thank you for your support,
Lisa Frank
Executive Director
P.S. Defending special places like the Okefenokee from mining and other threats takes resources. Will you donate to protect nature?
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1. Drew Kann, "Historic land deal halts mine planned next to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 20, 2025.
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2. "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: About Us," U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, last accessed June 19, 2025.
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3. Jennette Gayer, "Protect Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp," Environment Georgia, April 22, 2025.
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4. Drew Kann, "Historic land deal halts mine planned next to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 20, 2025.
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