The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced last week a huge new purchase of land for preservation adjacent to the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and Cumberland Island National Seashore. The property will still be available for outdoor enthusiasts, made possible through the efforts through several agencies, conservation groups and individuals.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to obtain these extraordinary properties and now will be able to manage them for the benefit of our citizens,” said Georgia DNR Commissioner Mark Williams. “It cannot be emphasized enough that the purchase of these properties would not have been possible without the support and investment of all of our dedicated partners.”
Besides the DNR, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the USDA Forest Service, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund and the Open Space Institute were all critical partners on the project.
The preserved land includes longleaf pine woods, maritime forest, freshwater wetlands and tidal salt marsh wetlands. The preservation of these ecosystems allows for the protection of multiple endangered species, including the gopher tortoise, wood store and Florida manatee – not to mention critical bald eagle habitat.
That new space is also a natural fit for being close to the naval base of Kings Bay. Development next to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s base for ballistic missile nuclear submarines is generally frowned upon.
“The collaboration between Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay and the REPI partners resulted in the protection of more than 27,000-acres of land known as Cabin Bluff and Ceylon,” said Capt. Chester Parks, commanding officer of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. “These successful projects protect the mission of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay from incompatible development, while also preserving vital habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species.”
The preservation is one of a long line for Georgia’s coast, among the most preserved stretches of oceanfront space in the country. There are plenty of spaces for tourists but the conservation of Georgia’s coast has been a project nearly 100 years in the making and continues to today. Cumberland Island is just one of several islands along the coast protected as a permanent place for nature and future generations of Georgians to enjoy. Now, this new property – and an additional 3,000 acres jointly held by the state and the Navy, – means an area nearly the size of Cumberland Island will also be protected.
“The permanent protection of this large landscape, once the home of Timucuan Native Americans, European settlers and slave plantations, saw and timber mills, is only possible because Georgia has a visionary group of conservation leaders in the government, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors who work together to share resources,” said Deron Davis, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy, Georgia. “These collaborations give the people of our state beautiful natural areas to explore, provide vital habitat for plants and animals, help clean our air and water and buffer communities from storm surges, and allow us to recognize and pay respect to the ancient stewards of this land.”
