For Once, Some Good News About a Fragile Ecosystem
The Okefenokee is huge, covering hundreds of miles, but it is shallow — only two feet deep in many places — and it isn't fed by any waterways. Rain is the swamp's only source of replenishment.
News of a proposed mine at the doorstep of the Okefenokee 'landed like a punch in the gut,' said Bill Sapp, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, in an episode of 'Broken Ground,' the nonprofit's podcast. 'Even very small changes in water elevations can really have a dramatic effect.' A mine on Trail Ridge would be an existential risk to an ecosystem already under threat by climate change, pollution and Republicans' capricious interpretation of environmental protection laws.
Wetland ecosystems are always complex, but the scale of the Okefenokee makes it particularly so. Its many habitats include marsh, upland forest, prairie, cypress swamp and a meandering web of waterways. It hosts more than 600 plant species, in addition to dozens of mammal, reptile and amphibian species, as well as a spectacular 234 species of birds. It is a porous, breathing place, as close to pristine and primeval as any we are likely to see in the 21st century.
This ethereal place is also crucial to the human beings who live nearby. Drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, it supports hundreds of jobs and contributes approximately $65 million to the local economy.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Growing up in a house with 5 sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of parenting — then I had a boy
I grew up with five sisters and my first child was a girl. I wasn't sure I knew how to parent a boy. I learned that he expressed himself differently, often coming to me with actions instead of words. I now know that love adapts to each child's unique needs and expressions. Growing up in a house with five sisters, I thought I had a solid understanding of what parenting might look like one day. Our home was loud, emotional, and deeply connected. I understood tears and tantrums, giggles and gossip. I knew what it meant to comfort, to share space, and to navigate a sea of emotions with grace and empathy. In many ways, I felt prepared for motherhood, especially when my first child, a daughter, arrived. I slipped into the role with a kind of natural ease. Dressing her, understanding her emotions, encouraging her independence, it all felt familiar. But when my son was born, everything changed. This experience was new to me Suddenly, I was parenting someone whose experience I had never lived. I had no brothers, no real exposure to the everyday world of boys growing up. And as much as I knew that love and care are universal, I couldn't help but feel unsteady. I was flooded with questions: How do I connect with him? Will I understand what he needs emotionally? How do I raise a kind, gentle boy in a world that too often tells them to be the opposite? In those early days, I doubted myself. Not because I loved him any less, but because I didn't feel equipped. He was energetic and physical in ways I hadn't seen before. He climbed, jumped, wrestled with the couch cushions. He needed space to run, to tumble, to roar like a dinosaur, and I didn't always know how to respond. I kept asking myself, "Am I doing this right?" Eventually, my thinking started to shift What I slowly learned was that I didn't have to "figure him out." I had to meet him where he was. I had to let go of my assumptions and listen with curiosity. While my daughter often came to me with words, my son came with action. His love language wasn't always verbal, it was climbing into my lap without warning, bringing me a toy with pride, or shouting "Mom, watch this!" before a wild leap from the sofa. It took quiet patience to understand that his emotions looked different. They came out in bursts of energy, sometimes in silence, sometimes in frustration. I had to tune in with a different kind of attention, not to what he was saying, but to what he was doing. And slowly, we built our rhythm. Wrestling turned into giggling. Bedtime stories turned into moments of deep, whispered connection. I realized that my son wasn't unreachable, I just needed new tools to reach him. There is no manual for parenting Raising both a daughter and a son has taught me something powerful: love isn't one-size-fits-all. It stretches and shifts to meet the child in front of you. It challenges you to grow beyond what you thought you knew. It reminds you that connection doesn't always come easily, but it's always worth pursuing. There's no perfect manual for parenting. And while my background with sisters gave me one set of instincts, my son opened up an entirely new world. One filled with mess and motion, yes, but also incredible tenderness, curiosity, and joy. Today, I see each of my children not as puzzles to be solved, but as people to be discovered. And I'm so grateful they've each invited me into their world, even when I felt unsure of how to enter it. If you had asked me before motherhood what kind of parent I'd be, I would've said "prepared." But now, I know the truth, parenting isn't about being ready, it's about being willing. Willing to grow, to learn, and to love without limits. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
23 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Life size puppets complete 20,000km journey
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Chicago Leo High School students welcomed back by alumni on first day
Leo High School in Auburn Gresham returned to school on Thursday for the school's 99th year. The 270 students were greeted by two long lines of alumni and a marching band for a years-long tradition The alumni then joined the freshman class for a continental breakfast in the cafeteria. the school's principal told students they have a lot to be excited about this year. "All of a sudden, young men on the south side have a national presence, they have a sense of agency, they have a sense of purpose, and we want to bring that sense of pride to them," Principal Shaka Rawls said. Also on Chicago's South Side, the nonprofit "Ignite" is hosting a back-to-school event this afternoon in Bronzeville. Chicago-area families are invited to visit the Rosenwald Courts courtyard until 4 p.m. for free school supplies, food, activities, and access to local services. This event also kicks off the organization's year-long 50th anniversary celebration.
