Okefenokee Swamp Nears UNESCO World Heritage Listing

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia and northern Florida, covering more than 400,000 acres and containing the largest subtropical freshwater wetland in the Northern Hemisphere, has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status. A United Nations committee is expected to meet in South Korea in July to decide on the inscription, which would place the site alongside other U.S. landmarks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone.

The nomination, driven by a bipartisan effort from Georgia’s congressional delegation, highlights the refuge’s largely intact ecosystems—over 90 % of the original wetland remains, supporting thousands of plant and animal species, including rare amphibians and extensive peat deposits that record 5,000 years of environmental data. Officials anticipate that World Heritage designation could double visitor numbers within the next five to ten years, boosting tourism and education while preserving the area’s natural character.