At the Georgia Conservancy’s recent annual gala, the ecoBenefête, former President Jimmy Carter was honored as the 2019 Distinguished Conservationist. The award recognizes those with a “profound and lasting impact on the conservation and protection of Georgia’s natural resources.”
Carter was one of the Georgia Conservancy’s charter members back in 1967, and has played a key role not just in spreading awareness of the group and its mission, but specifically played a key role in preserving the Upper Flint River and in establishing the Georgia Heritage Trust, which allows the state to acquire land for archeological, geological, historical or recreational purposes.
“My thoughts on conservation are grounded in a lifelong love of the natural wonders of Georgia and our responsibility to pass on the land, water, and forests in a better condition than we inherited them,” wrote President Carter in his acceptance of the Distinguished Conservationist Award.
Carter credited his rural heritage for his connection to the natural environment and thanked the conservancy for their work in Georgia. During his time as state senator, governor and president, Carter helped to conserve Panola Mountain, Sweetwater Creek, Ossabaw Island, and was critical in the designation of the Chattooga as a Wild and Scenic River.
“Growing up on a farm, I understood the protection of the earth was the individuals’ responsibility and that we must carefully manage and enhance nature rather than degrade it. I am proud to have had the opportunity to share these ideals with the Georgia Conservancy. Their leadership in environmental preservation, protection, and policy enactment was helpful to me as State Senator, Governor of Georgia, and then President of the United States.”
Two former Georgia Conservancy Trustees and current members of The Carter Center Board of Councilors, Claire Arnold and Joel Cowan, accepted the award on behalf of President Carter in his absence and spoke about Carter’s lasting legacy on environmental stewardship and the outlook for the future of the conservancy.
“The collaboration that the Georgia Conservancy has done for many years on issues with disparate parties that are far apart, they have been able to bring them together,” said Arnold. “The Conservancy has played a quiet, collaborative, constructive role, and I think that that has to continue.”
At the event, the conservancy also announced a collaboration with Georgia Tech – Carter’s one-time college – to complete a historic review of the state’s land usage since 1970. Through the use of advanced GIS mapping, the team will review land coverage and usage and provide an in-depth overview of how land use has changed over the past 50 years. This will allow the conservancy and the team at Georgia Tech to better predict land usage as Georgia grows over the next 50 years.
“Future generations of conservation leaders must remember that we are stewards of a precious gift, which is not an unpleasant duty but rather an exciting challenge,” said President Carter. “We must safeguard our land so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy freshwater, clean air, scenic mountains and coasts, fertile agricultural lands, and healthy save places to live and thrive.”
