A report commissioned by The Conservation Fund was released this week showing the economic impact potential that the Okefenokee Swamp World Heritage Designation would mean for the swamp and the region. The study found a potential for 100 percent increase in visitation, generating some $60 million in additional annual economic impact.
“This report is tremendous news that shows the strong ROI and economic impact that both the World Heritage Site designation and completion of the Okefenokee Experience improvements would have on our region,” said Kim Bednarek, executive director of the Okefenokee Swamp Park. “We are simultaneously protecting the Swamp, opening it up to new visitors and audiences, and creating more jobs and tax revenues for our region. It truly is a win-win, and we are excited about the future!”
Okefenokee Swamp Park opened nearly 75 years ago at the northern entrance to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It is a non-profit located mostly in Dixon Memorial State Forest near Waycross. It does not receive federal or state funds but is funded from the millions of visitors over the decades. The park offers boat tours, train tours, education programs and exhibits showcasing the history and natural beauty of the region. The Swamp Park’s support for the designation and helping to fund the application with the Fish and Wildlife Service gave the effort a big boost last year.
More than 800,000 people visit the Okefenokee every year, spending more than $90 million in just Ware, Charlton and Clinch counties. This spending adds up to about $11 million in annual tax revenue every year, the majority in Ware County, home of Waycross, the largest city in the area. Being so far from a major airport – four hours from Atlanta, visitation is relatively low for a site as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia but the extra domestic and international attention from the World Heritage site designation is estimated to double the number of visits by 2035. The new spending would generate up to 700 new jobs.
“Beyond the headline numbers, this data shows that World Heritage will open the door for new small businesses, help the area attract and retain talent, and spark a positive cycle of reinvestment in Southeast Georgia,” said Lance Gloss, The Conservation Fund’s Natural Resource Economy Program Manager.
The designation would also potentially help to spur further conservation for the region, notably the potential for expanding mining in the region. The Okefenokee is one of the world’s last intact blackwater swamp – a unique ecosystem that is home to alligators, endangered birds and more than 400 animal species in total. It is the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River.
The Heritage Site listing has gotten bipartisan support from Georgia’s congressional delegation, with Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA 1) and Sen. Jon Ossoff urging the U.S. Interior Department to nominate the refuge.
“It would support efforts to protect and preserve the refuge’s natural and cultural resources and further important scientific exploration and analysis,” said Sen. Ossoff. “The nomination would also attract tourism and benefit the local and recreational economy and communities.”
To read the full study: https://okeswamp.org/economic-impact-study/
