About the Refuge
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 as a "refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife". The Okefenokee is like no other place on earth, where natural beauty and wilderness prevail. The vision for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat, ensure integrity of the ecological system, and embrace the grandeur, mystery, and cultural heritage that lead to an enrichment of the human spirit.
Okefenokee National
Wildlife Refuge conserves the unique qualities of the Okefenokee Swamp for
future generations to enjoy. The swamp
is considered the headwaters of the Suwannee and St Marys Rivers. Habitats provide for threatened and
endangered species, such as red-cockaded woodpecker, wood storks, indigo
snakes, and a wide variety of other wildlife species. It is world renowned for its amphibian
populations that are bio-indicators of global health. More than 600 plant species have been
identified on refuge lands. The
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has 353,981 acres of National Wilderness
Area within the refuge boundaries. In
addition, the refuge is a Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR
Convention – 1971) because it is one of the world’s largest intact freshwater
ecosystems.