Research Projects:
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF GEORGIA
The Nature Conservancy uses sound science and a non-confrontation approach to achieve its mission to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. As an international non-profit organization with chapters in all 50 states and programs in 29 countries, we protect biologically diverse landscapes by working with a multitude of partners, including government agencies, industries, other conservation organizations, landowners, and communities. Through acquisitions, easements and cooperative agreements, The Nature Conservancy has helped protect 94 million acres worldwide, including 14 million acres in the United States and more than 220,000 acres in Georgia.
A significant amount of our protection in Georgia has been for the benefit of rare plants, mainly because the scale at which we work easily accommodates viable populations of rare plants. The Georgia Chapter's 17-preserve system ranges from the rugged sandstone outcrops of Broxton Rocks in the coastal plain which harbors more than 500 native plant species to the old-growth forest of Marshall Forest in the Ridge and Valley Province, where more than 300 plant species occur.
Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River and ranks sixth in the nation in terms of natural diversity. With more than 3,000 plant species naturally occurring throughout the state and 105 species protected, Georgia ranks seventh in vascular plant diversity. Unfortunately, many of the areas that support this natural diversity lack protection. Approximately 8 percent of Georgia lands is in public ownership, ranking Georgia sixth among 16 southern state in terms of the amount of publicly protected conservation lands.
The Nature Conservancy first began working in Georgia in 1963, and, in 1987, established its Georgia office. With field offices around the state, easily facilitating on-the-ground conservation work, the Georgia Chapter is moving ahead to protect ecologically sensitive lands for future generations.
For information, contact Christine Griffiths at 912-437-2161, ext. 225 or cgriffiths@tnc.org.
Pictured: Malcolm Hodges, John Bozeman, and Mary Jo Godt
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
| Number of Nature Conservancy member households in Georgia | approximately 18,000 |
| Number of preserves owned/managed by the Georgia Chapter | 17 |
| Number of acres protected in Georgia | more than 220,000 |