On July 25, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the United States 27th World Heritage Site, the first site for Georgia and the first National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. to receive the designation. Congratulations to the Okefenokee Swamp Park, The Conservation Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and their many partners in the 47 year effort to preserve and protect on of the nation’s truly special places.
The World Heritage Committee recognized the Okefenokee for its outstanding ecological processes, exceptional biodiversity, and status as one of the world's largest and most intact subtropical freshwater peatland ecosystems. The designation further elevates the refuge as a global destination for conservation, scientific research, historical tourism, outdoor recreation, and environmental education.
The press release from the Okefenokee Swamp Park and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp can be read here.
More information on the Okefenokee’s World Heritage Site designation can be found here.
On Wednesday, July 29, at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee is holding a business meeting to mark up 39 bills. A number of bills from last week’s hearing are on the agenda, including:
S. 791, to establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site in the State of Maryland.
S. 2767/H.R. 5254, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in Gateway Arch National Park buildings.
S. 2933, A bill to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the "Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer".
3 National Heritage Area bills to authorize feasibility studies/designation.
The full listing of the bills considered is in the hearing notice. A link to the webcast of the hearing will be available on the page on Wednesday morning.
Not including in the meeting agenda is S. 3524, a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the American Battlefields Protection Program and S. 1674, a bill to modify the boundary of Mammoth Cave National Park to add 551 acres to the site. The committee wanted more time to consider the National Park Service’s comments. A business meeting will be scheduled in September to mark up additional bill.
I’m tracking these bill because the committee action demonstrates that they have some momentum and a good chance of being approved by Congress by the end of the year. The August recess is a good opportunity to reach out to your congressional delegation to let them know the legislation that is important to your community.
Today, USA Today published a special edition recognizing our federal partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for 250 years of service to the nation. Our advocacy partner, the Corps Foundation, was given a free full page ad to highlight their work and provide visibility to the thousands of Corps of Engineers personnel and the many organizations that work with USACE. It’s a great look that USACE’s work on America’s lakes and waterways and outdoor recreation. The Corp Foundation ad is on page 73, the special edition can be read here.
ALX Now looks at how the historic Virginia city is navigating two consecutive years of budget cuts in Visit Alexandria CEO Todd O’Leary is charting a new path for city tourism.
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