Political Science class helps preserve Georgia landmark

Students often think of a project as just an assignment they turn in for a grade. But in Dr. John Tures’ Research Methods class this past academic year, the task of providing data to help Okefenokee Swamp supporters secure a UNESCO World Heritage Site bid had real-life effects that brought the undergraduate researchers to the Georgia Capitol on Feb. 8.

When the students arrived at state government headquarters, they were able to meet with Nick Savas, a representative of Sen. Jon Ossoff's office; Dr. Michael

Angelo-James, Mayor of Waycross; and other local politicians and Okefenokee Swamp supporters.

“We just walked in and started talking to people,” said Hannah Godfrey ’24. “The representative from Senator Ossoff’s office was very engaging and interested in what we were doing.”

According to Defenders of Wildlife, a national organization based out of Washington, D.C., Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, which takes up 93% percent of the wetlands in the Okefenokee Swamp, is known as the largest national wildlife refuge in the eastern United States, covering more than 400,000 acres.

Political Science Professor Dr. Tures said the lack of World Heritage Site protection could be detrimental to the preservation of the Okefenokee Swamp.

“There are companies that want to mine the area for titanium,” he said. “Furthermore, there could be developers or other encroachments on the Okefenokee. It has lasted a long time but has probably never faced environmental challenges like this in its history.”