John,
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge safeguards one of the world’s largest pristine, freshwater swamps. Its tea-colored waters, cypress sanctuaries, and longleaf pine uplands support an astounding biodiversity of plants, animals and insects — from alligator snapping turtles to wood storks. It’s an oasis of wilderness in a quickly urbanizing area of the U.S. Southeast. But a mining company plans to destroy nearly 800 acres right next to the Okefenokee without any federal environmental oversight — and this is just the first step in plans to mine thousands more acres nearby.
In addition to harming endangered species like red-cockaded woodpeckers and eastern indigo snakes, the mine could also trigger the release of carbon stored in the vast peat beds beneath the renowned wetland, setting back our fight against the climate crisis.
Take action to stop the mine and save this international treasure.
|
