The Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday it will stretch the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’s boundaries by up to 22,000 acres, in a move applauded by opponents of a titanium mine proposed for the region.
After sifting through some 30,000 public comments, the federal agency said it will follow through on the Georgia refuge expansion proposal first floated in October.
“The response received during the public comment period is a testament to just how special Okefenokee is, not just to our local community, but to people all over the nation and around the world,” Okefenokee Refuge Manager Michael Lusk said in a statement, adding that “this minor expansion will help further conservation efforts for the swamp along with the threatened and endangered species that inhabit it.”
The new acquisition boundary includes lands currently held by different owners adjacent to the refuge, which at 402,000 acres is currently the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. The Fish and Wildlife Service says land might be acquired to strengthen the hydrological integrity of the swamp, as well as provide habitat for the gopher tortoise and mitigate impacts of wildfires, among other potential benefits.
