Big news for the Canoochee Bogs! The Georgia Native Plant Society and its members recently donated over $7,000 to the bogs during a “challenge grant” from its board of directors. Folks from Vidalia, to Atlanta, and even up to Pennsylvania donated to protect the bogs and had their donations matched by GNPS.
TheGeorgia Native Plant Society is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitat. They have played an active role in conserving the bogs over the past 23 years.
With this outpouring of support, the project is only $4,000 away from completion. Thank you to the plant community for helping to protect this precious resource!
The Canoochee Bogs, which are located in Southeast Georgia, are part of the longleaf pine ecosystem and provide crucial habitat for three carnivorous pitcherplant and seven orchid species, as well as Georgia's state reptile (gopher tortoise), and migratory songbirds. Permanently protecting this habitat from development will safeguard these rare species while allowing for habitat restoration. Ongoing restoration activities include prescribed fire, increasing rare plant populations, and removal of invasive woody shrubs.
Conservation groups from across the state, including partners at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, have worked diligently since the late 1990’s to conserve the Canoochee Bogs, which span several privately-owned land parcels. The private landowners’ willingness to allow access to their land for rare species monitoring and restoration has been critical to this project’s success.
Conservation easements (CE) are voluntary, yet legally binding, agreements which allow private land ownership while restricting development. CEs are used to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, scenic areas, agricultural land, and historic sites. Permanently binding, conservation easements benefit current and future generations. Public benefits provided by conservation easements include the protection of drinking water, clean air, and scenic landscapes.