Okefenokee Nears UNESCO Honor | Savannah News

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is on the brink of becoming Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site — and the first U.S. national wildlife refuge to earn this global honor. Spanning 407,000 acres as North America’s largest blackwater swamp, this vital subtropical peatland not only supports incredible biodiversity but also stores millions of tons of carbon, making it a key player in climate resilience. After decades of advocacy, the upcoming UNESCO vote could bring international acclaim, tourism boosts, and economic benefits to southeast Georgia — without new regulations — cementing the Okefenokee as a globally significant natural treasure. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dc8f9b7e9a260322