Conservation Policies To Protect Georgia's Environment
Our conservation policies provide the Georgia Conservancy with the tools to proactively and confidently approach sustainability and conservation issues that affect our natural resources and influence the lives of Georgians.
Georgia Conservancy's Conservation Policies
Coastal Conservation Policy
A healthy, resilient and diverse coastal ecosystem that can endure natural and human disturbances, an economy that offers diverse options including healthy, sustainable nature-based businesses such as commercial fishing and recreation-based tourism, and responsible planning for growth and conservation of sensitive coastal lands. Learn more >>
Land Use Conservation Policy
Protection and conservation of our precious natural places, sustainable growth solutions for communities large and small, benefits for private land owners seeking to conserve their lands, maintenance of beneficial and existing conservation regulations, and a dedicated source of funding for state land conservation. Learn more >>
Climate Conservation Policy
Earth’s changing climate is one of Georgia’s most significant long-term environmental challenges. The Georgia Conservancy is therefore committed to the development and promotion of policies and practices that lessen the adverse impacts on the environment that contribute to climate change. Learn more >>
Water Conservation Policy
Clean and abundant drinking water, diverse aquatic habitats preserved for wildlife and recreation, an integrated statewide water quality monitoring network, and a comprehensive state water management plan for the State of Georgia founded on sound science and ecological integrity. Learn more >>
Energy Conservation Policy
Efficiency and sustainability in our homes, business and transportation models and the development of clean, renewable energy developed, utilized and preferred to protect Georgia’s environment, and the health of Georgians for generations to come. Learn more >>
Air Conservation Policy
Clean and healthy air is essential for Georgia’s people, communities, and natural systems. We support conservation policies that reduce harmful emissions, improve statewide air quality monitoring, and promote energy and transportation choices that keep Georgia’s air safe to breathe. Learn more >>
Environmental Issues in Georgia
Georgia is growing quickly, and with that growth come serious pressures on the land, water, and wildlife that define our state. From sprawling development to climate change, environmental issues in Georgia affect every community, whether you live in the mountains, along the coast, or in the heart of a city.
The Georgia Conservancy addresses these challenges through conservation policies, hands-on service, and partnerships. By combining advocacy with on-the-ground action, we connect people directly to the places that need care while influencing the decisions that shape Georgia’s future.
Some of the environmental issues we face in Georgia include:
- Water security: Protecting rivers such as the Flint and Chattahoochee so communities can count on clean drinking water.
- Coastal resilience: Keeping barrier islands, tidal marshes, and estuaries strong in the face of storms and rising seas.
- Land use: Encouraging growth that keeps green space intact rather than paving over it.
- Climate change: Finding practical ways to cut emissions while helping towns adapt to hotter summers and stronger storms.
- Biodiversity: Preserving habitat for species like the gopher tortoise and right whale so they remain part of Georgia’s future.
Our stewardship trips provide Georgians with an opportunity to see these issues firsthand and take action.
Volunteers may clear trails on Cumberland Island, paddle stretches of the river to check water quality, or spend a weekend helping to restore wildlife habitats. These efforts not only improve the land and water but also bring people together around a shared love for the state of Georgia.
Explore the calendar for upcoming service weekends.
The challenges facing Georgia are significant, but so is the progress we’ve made together. From restored trails and protected habitats to smart growth advocacy, our impact reaches across the state.
Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
Georgia is home to species that define our state’s natural character, yet many of them are at risk. Right whales off the coast and gopher tortoises in the pine forests both face pressures from development and a changing climate. Protecting these species means protecting the larger systems of land and water that support all life in Georgia.
The Georgia Conservancy supports endangered species through a mix of hands-on efforts, conservation policies, and partnerships. By working with lawmakers, landowners, and local communities, we ensure that protection is practical and lasting.
Two of our current initiatives highlight this approach:
Saving The North Atlantic Right Whale
Each winter, the waters off Georgia’s coast serve as the only known calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale, one of the most endangered large mammals on Earth.
The survival of the fewer than 370 remaining depends on action today. The Georgia Conservancy supports policies that reduce ship strikes, prevent entanglement in fishing gear, and safeguard the coastal waters where mothers and calves depend on safety.
Gopher Tortoise Initiative
The gopher tortoise is Georgia’s state reptile and a cornerstone of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Its burrows provide shelter for hundreds of other animals, from frogs to snakes to small mammals.
Through the Gopher Tortoise Initiative, the Georgia Conservancy works with landowners, conservation partners, and state agencies to protect habitat, restore longleaf pine, and push for funding that expands land conservation.
These strategies show how focused conservation efforts for individual species can create ripple effects that benefit entire landscapes, ensuring that Georgia’s wildlife and natural systems endure.
Conservation Strategies for Biodiversity
Georgia is one of the most biologically rich states in the country. From mountain streams in the north to salt marshes along the coast, the diverse ecosystems here support thousands of plant and animal species.
But that biodiversity is under pressure. Development, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and climate change are putting many of these natural communities at risk.
The Georgia Conservancy works to protect biodiversity through conservation policies, land protection, and partnerships that connect people directly to the places most in need of care. A guiding framework is the Georgia State Wildlife Action Plan, which outlines the state’s conservation priorities. We align our efforts with this plan to ensure that resources are directed toward the habitats and species that are most in need.
Our work focuses on three main strategies:
- Land conservation: Protecting forests, farms, and wetlands that provide habitat for Georgia’s native species.
- Connectivity: Encouraging growth patterns and land-use decisions that prevent fragmentation and allow wildlife to migrate, adapt, and thrive.
- Community engagement: Helping Georgians experience these landscapes through trips and education programs so conservation becomes personal and lasting.
Healthy ecosystems do more than protect wildlife. They clean our water, improve air quality, and strengthen communities. The Georgia Conservancy works to ensure that biodiversity remains an integral part of the state’s identity.
Protecting biodiversity is about protecting Georgia itself, for today and for the generations who will inherit the land and water we leave behind.
Our Impact on Conservation In Georgia
Georgia Conservancy is leading efforts across the state to protect and preserve our most vital natural resources.