North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation - 11/17/21

In celebration of Whale Week 2021, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a discussion on North Atlantic Right Whale conservation. We were joined by Kim Sawicki of Sustainable Seas Technology, Clay George of Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division, and Charles McMillan of the Georgia Conservancy. The talk focused on the status of the critical endangered North Atlantic Right Whale and the measures being taken to conserve and restore the population.

SPACEPORT CAMDEN - 07/13/21

On July 13, the Georgia Conservancy sat down with Laura Early of the Satilla Riverkeeper and Brian Gist of the Southern Environmental Law Center to discuss the proposed Spaceport Camden and the Federal Aviation Administration’s recently released Environmental Impact Statement.

GENERATION GREEN - 05/06/21

The Georgia Conservancy welcomed members of our junior board, Generation Green, to discuss the history of the board and many of their initiatives and interests. We were joined by board members, Eboni Preston of Greening Youth Foundation, William Bryan of Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, and Mandy Cobb Rahiya of Resource Branding.

Coastal Georgia’s Natural Assets - 03/30/21

For our final Hope for the Coast discussion, we take a look at Coastal Georgia's natural assets and their important role in the future of our state. We are joined by Bert Roughton (retired Sr. Managing Editor of the AJC), Ben Young (Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Georgia Trend) and Katherine Moore (President of The Georgia Conservancy.

CaPTURing THE COAST - 03/23/21

As part of our Hope For The Coast celebration, we checked in with St. Simons Island photographer Benjamin Galland to discuss his love of Georgia's coast and his creative way of capturing its beauty.

Environmental History of the Okefenokee - 03/16/21

For our Hope For the Coast celebration we discussed on the environmental history of the Okefenokee Swamp with Dr. William Bryan, and looked at current threats to the Swamp with Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director Charles McMillan.

OYSTER ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION - 03/09/21

As part of Hope For The Coast our month-long celebration of Georgia's 110-mile coastline, we were excited to be joined by Christi Lambert of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, Paul Medders of Coastal Resources Division - Georgia DNR, Graham Gaines of South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, and the Georgia Conservancy’s very own Coastal Director, Charles McMillan, to discuss Georgia's oysters and the restoration of their ecosystem

NATURE-BASED Tourism on the Coast - 03/02/21

For our first discussion in our March Hope For The Coast celebration, we look at one of the major drivers of Georgia’s coastal economy - nature-based tourism with sustainable tourism consultant Cheryl Hargrove and Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director Charles McMillan.

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING IN GEORGIA - 02/23/21

Our February 23 discussion, hosted by the Georgia Conservancy's Generation Green, looked at the essential need and ripe opportunities available for affordable and sustainable housing across Georgia. Our guests for this panel included Christy Dodson of Kronberg Urbanists + Architects; Nick Johnson of Georgia Conservancy, and Eboni Preston of Greening Youth Foundation and Generation Green board chair.

Georgia’s Political Landscape - 01/19/21

On January 19, The Georgia Conservancy’s young professionals board, Generation Green hosted a conversation about the incoming Biden Administration’s environmental agenda and its potential impacts for the Southeast, Georgia, and local government. We were joined by Generation Green’s Eboni Preston and Dr. William Bryan, Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Mandy Mahoney, and Georgia Conservancy Advocacy Director Leah Dixon.

Atlanta’s Aquatic Assets - 12/15/20

On December 15, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a discussion on Atlanta’s aquatic assets. We had a look at the troubled past of Atlanta's creeks and streams, as well as the efforts made to restore their ecological health. We were joined by Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D. MPH, Assistant Professor of Environmental & Health Sciences at Spelman College and Board Chair at West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, and Camilla Warren, Brownfields Revitalization Project Manager at EPA Region 4.

Untrip From Home - Ossabaw Island - 12/14/20

For our December 14 Untrip From Home we virtually explored and learned about one of Georgia’s largest and most remote barrier islands - Ossabaw Island! We were joined by Ossabaw Island Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth DuBose and Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trips Director Clark Harrison.

Talkin’ North Atlantic Right Whale, Pt. 2 - 12/8/20 

For Part 2 of our Whale Week discussion of the North Atlantic right whale, we looked at current threats as well as conservation and legislative efforts underway to ensure a bright future for the North Atlantic right whale. The Georgia Conservancy was joined by Dr. Alistair Dove, Vice President of Research and Conservation at the Georgia Aquarium, Katharine Deuel, Officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts, and Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director Charles McMillan.

TALKIN’ NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE, PT. 1 - 12/1/20

For Part 1 of our Whale Week look at the North Atlantic right whale, the Georgia Conservancy was joined by former Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director and right whale advocate Hans Neuhauser and current Coastal Director Charles McMillan to discuss this critically-endangered marine mammal and its important connection to Georgia.

THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY - 11/17/20

On November 17, the Georgia Conservancy sat down with Georgia Forestry Association Executive Director Andres Villegas and Georgia Conservancy Senior Planner to look at the role that sustainable forestry plays in Georgia - in both our natural resources and our economy. 

Okefenokee Mining Update - 11/10/20

On November 10, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a Facebook Live discussion looking at changes to the scope of federal and state permitting for the proposed heavy mineral mining near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

This mining proposal from Twin Pines, Inc. along Trail Ridge, just east of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, highlights state and local governments' shifting role in an era of streamlined and reduced federal oversight.

AMENDMENT ONE - 10/06/20

On October 6, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a Facebook Live discussion on the Georgia 2020 ballot referendum - Amendment 1. We were joined by Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) Riverkeeper and Executive Director, and Kathleen Bowen, Associate Legislative Director with Association County Commissioners Georgia (ACCG).

Amendment 1, which Georgia voters will get the chance to vote on during the November 3 election, is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would require the state to "dedicate", or spend fees on the specific purposes for which the fees were collected.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park - 9/26/20

In celebration of National Public Lands Day on September 26, the Georgia Conservancy sat down with Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park to have look at some of the incredible cultural, historical, and ecological aspects of this National Park in Macon, Georgia.

We were be joined in our discussion by two National Park Service Biological Science Technicians who call Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park home: Zoe Nuhfer and Christina Valdes.

Land Trusts in Georgia - 09/08/20

On September 8, we sat down for a Facebook Live discussion on the efforts of land trusts across Georgia to provide for the long-term protection of critical habitats, vital landscapes, and ecologically-sensitive areas. Land trusts come in all shapes and sizes and work across geographies and ecologies; this event brought together Carol Hassell, Executive Director of Georgia Piedmont Land Trust, and Shane Wellendorf, Conservation Coordinator at Tall Timbers. Ms. Hassell works mostly in north Georgia, including some urban and suburban areas, while Mr. Wellendorf focuses on conserving critical habitat of rural southwest Georgia.

GOSP Projects in Atlanta - 9/03/20

On September 3, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a Facebook Live chat focusing on two Atlanta projects that were selected to receive a grants from the newly established Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP), and a look at how other communities may apply for funding in 2021. We were joined by South Fork Conservancy Executive Director Kimberly Estep, Atlanta Beltline Program Manager Meghan Injaychock, and Georgia Conservancy Advocacy Director Leah Dixon.

A Tour Through Georgia - 8/11/20

On Tuesday, August 11 we sat down for a Facebook Live discussion with Erin Phillips, Community Development Director with the City of Springfield, and Erica Studdard, Community Development Director with with the City of Carrollton, to explore how both of their communities have utilized the outdoors as an economic asset.

The Outdoors as Your Asset - 8/4/20

For our Tuesday, August 4 Facebook Live discussion we explored how Georgia's outdoor assets can support our cities and towns. We were joined by Stephanie Aylworth from the Georgia Municipal Association, who discussed efforts across Georgia to make vibrant, communal spaces through the Georgia Placemaking Collaborative, and Tracie Sanchez of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Explore Georgia, who discussed Georgia's thriving outdoor economy and its significance for our state and local communities.

Conservation on Lookout Mountain - 7/23/20

For our July 23 Facebook Live chat, as we sit down with Cody Roney, Executive Director of Lula Lake Land Trust and Mike Heneghan, Director of Stewardship for Georgia-Alabama Land Trust to discuss the expansion of conservation space and outdoor recreation opportunities on Lookout Mountain.

The Problem with Plastics - 7/9/20

For our July 9 Facebook Live chat, we discussed policy efforts and personal steps to reduce our ever-growing reliance on plastic products. Our guests for this panel -- Paulita Bennett-Martin, Campaign Organizer for Georgia at Oceana, and Ryan Jinks, an Environmental Science educator in Savannah, Georgia -- have years of expertise and knowledge of the detrimental effects of plastics and ways to inspire consumers, policymakers, and concerned citizens to make a change.

Preserving Agricultural Lands - 6/23/20

On June 23, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a Facebook Live discussion focusing on efforts to preserve agricultural land in Georgia and cultivate a strong local food production sector in our state. We were joined by two experts who are leading these efforts in Georgia: Krisztian Varsa, Conservation Director at Athens Land Trust; and Stacy Funderburke, Assistant Regional Counsel & Conservation Acquisition Associate at The Conservation Fund. The robust discussion touched on how their work interacts with local policy, markets, and conservation objectives for our state.

Building Resiliency: Weather & Water - 06/9/20

On June 9, the Georgia Conservancy hosted a discussion that focused on building a more resilient Georgia through the lens of weather and water. We were joined by Pam Knox, Director of the UGA Weather Network and Agricultural Climatologist and Courtney Reich, AICP, CFM, Vice President of Goodwyn Mills Cawood. With extreme weather increasing in the face of an uncertain climate future, Georgia communities must adjust their expectations of, planning for, and management of water resources.

Economics of Housing in GEorgia - 5/12/20

On May 12, the Georgia Conservancy spoke with Geoff Koski, President of Bleakly Advisory Group, and Mill Graves, Director of Economic Development for the Electric Cities of Georgia on how smart housing policy -- diversity of housing types, co-location of housing and services, density on a sliding scale -- can support local economies and preserve vital elements of our natural environment.

Ocmulgee National park & Preserve - 5/5/20

On May 5, Georgia Conservancy discussed the future of the Ocmulgee National Park & Preserve with partners at the National Parks Conservation Association and Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative. The Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) is a community based group of Middle Georgia citizens working together to expanding the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and conserved lands along the Ocmulgee River corridor from Macon to Hawkinsville into the first National Park and Preserve east of the Mississippi River.

Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative - 4/28/20

On April 28, we discussed the Georgia Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative with the Georgia Conservancy’s Charles McMillan, Georgia DNR’s Steve Friedman, and Chris Jenkins of the Orianne Society. The Georgia Gopher Tortoise Initiative is geared to protecting and managing enough gopher tortoise habitat to preclude a listing on the Endangered Species List. The partners working on this effort realize that protection of the land is not enough to ensure the gopher tortoise and multiple other at‐risk species found in this community are sustainable.  Restoration and long‐ term management of these lands will be critical. 

Coastal Marshlands Protection Act - 4/28/20

On April 21, we discussed the 50th Anniversary of the Georgia Coastal Marshlands Protection Act with Paul Bolster, author of Saving The Georgia Coast: A Political History of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act, and Georgia Conservancy Coastal Director Charles McMillan, who penned the Afterword to And the Coastlands Wait: How the Grassroots Battle to Save Georgia's Marshlands Was Fought—and Won by Reid Harris. Passed in 1970, the Act was visionary in its approach to protecting the Georgia’s salt marsh and surrounding environments for generations to come.

Talkin’ With Cathy Sakas - 4/16/20

On April 16, the Georgia Conservancy enjoyed a lunch-time talk with acclaimed Georgia naturalist Cathy Sakas! From the North Atlantic Right Whale to Grey’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Cathy Sakas’ career has been one of discovery, adventure, and advocacy. And it continues to this day!

An Update on The Golden Ray - 4/14/20

Our April 14, we discussed the removal of the Golden Ray cargo ship from St. Simons Sound and its environmental impacts. We were joined by Georgia Conservancy Communications Director Brian Foster, GC Coastal and Natural Resources Director Charles McMillan, Susan Inman of the Altamaha Riverkeeper, and Clay Montague, retired estuarine systems ecologist from the University of Florida.

Mining Near The OKefenokee - 4/2/20

On April 2, Georgia Conservancy Communications Director Brian Foster and Georgia Conservancy Coastal & Natural Resources Director Charles McMillan discussed the potential impacts of the proposed mining project near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The proximity to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, which is one of Georgia’s most precious ecological sites and wilderness areas, heightens Georgia Conservancy concerns over the proposed mining.