The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will remain undisturbed after The Conservation Fund purchased land where Twin Pines Minerals had proposed a controversial mining operation.
🌿 Why It Matters: The Okefenokee is one of Georgia’s largest natural attractions, drawing nearly 725,000 visitors annually and generating an estimated $64.7 million for the surrounding counties’ economies.
🏞️ What Happened: The Conservation Fund announced it has acquired both the land and mineral rights from Twin Pines Minerals, effectively ending a six-year dispute over mining near the refuge’s eastern border.
💧 The Issue: Environmental groups expressed concerns that mining along Trail Ridge could potentially affect water levels in the swamp. The mining proposal had generated more than 250,000 public comments to regulatory agencies.
🦅 About the Refuge: The Okefenokee spans approximately 438,000 acres and provides habitat for numerous species including alligators, black bears, and several endangered or threatened species such as wood storks and red-cockaded woodpeckers.
🗣️ Public Response: A 2024 survey indicated strong support among Georgia voters for protecting the Okefenokee from mining activities, with at least 19 local governments across the state passing resolutions supporting the refuge’s protection.
The Southern Environmental Law Center was among several organizations that had opposed the mining project since it was first proposed.
Who Bought The Land?: The Conservation Fund is a group that helps protect nature like forests, rivers, and farms across the United States. They work with communities to save land and make sure people can enjoy and use it for things like hiking, farming, and clean water.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
