peatlands
Georgia eyes approval for a controversial titanium mine near Okefenokee Swamp
A titanium mine proposed near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has sparked significant opposition, raising concerns about the impact on North America's largest intact blackwater swamp.
In short:
- The mine, proposed by Twin Pines Minerals, promises economic benefits but faces opposition from environmentalists, scientists, and the Biden administration, highlighting risks to the Okefenokee Swamp.
- Public debate intensifies as Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division issues draft permits, with a final decision pending based on public comments.
- Local communities and environmental advocates emphasize the irreplaceable value of the Okefenokee, citing its unique ecosystem, historical significance, and potential designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Key quote:
"Titanium is a common mineral, while the Okefenokee is a very uncommon swamp.”
— Bruce Babbitt, interior secretary under President Bill Clinton
Why this matters:
It's a familiar debate with passions running high on both sides. Mining proponents tout potential economic benefits and infrastructure improvements in a region badly in need of both, while opponents argue for protections of a unique ecosystem. Defenders of the Okefenokee have been here before as Peter Dykstra points out in this 2020 essay from Environmental Health News.
Indonesia food estate threatens peatlands, with dire climate costs
In rush for key metals, Canada ushers miners to its fragile north
Canada is offering incentives to mining companies to dig in its northern regions for the critical minerals needed for EVs and solar panels. But based on past abuses, critics fear carbon-rich peatlands will be lost, wild rivers polluted, and enormous cleanup projects left behind.
Finland drained its peatlands. He’s helping bring them back
Deforestation drives fire risk in Borneo amid a warming climate, study finds
Annual peatland fires in Indonesia affect ecology, air quality, nutrient distribution of the soil, and human health.