– Imagine having a breathtaking national wildlife refuge right in your backyard, where nature thrives and ecosystems flourish. That’s the story of the Okefenokee Swamp, stretching across the Florida-Georgia line.
For over 6,500 years, the wetland has been a vital part of the ecosystem, the largest blackwater swamp in America, home to a diverse range of species, including gators, birds and bears. An Alabama company called Twin Pines LLC is eyeing titanium and zirconium, two in-demand minerals used in everything from planes to computers. When reached for comment, a public relations manager hired by the company said the owners weren’t available for an interview, but they would let us use their informational video and website to understand their side of the story.
FILE - The Red Trail of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge winds through a stand of cypress trees on the way to the Stephen C. Foster State Park. “No sugarcoating it,” said Emily Floore, the St. Marys Riverkeeper. “The mine’s location, if it has any impact, will affect the St. Marys River twice, all due to the mine’s positioning on what’s known as Trail Ridge, the swamp’s guardian and the river’s protector.