Atlanta‑based nonprofit Southface used its annual Visionary Awards on Oct. 15 at the Georgia Aquarium to showcase a landmark sustainability story. Executive Director Nathan Bessette, who has led the organization for nine months, praised the recent UNESCO World Heritage designation for the Okefenokee Swamp.

Argon Award of Excellence Recognizes Preservation Effort

Southface presented its Argon Award of Excellence to Kim Bednarek, whose coalition work helped secure the designation. The Okefenokee, North America’s largest black‑water swamp spanning southeastern Georgia and northern Florida, became the first natural UNESCO site in the United States in 30 years.

“The ethos of the work she’s doing, the work of the Okefenokee, just really felt similar to Southface,” Bessette said, noting the swamp’s status as a hidden gem and a valuable asset for Georgia’s citizens.

Economic Impact and Future Plans

Visitor spending at the swamp already exceeds $90 million annually; the UNESCO label is expected to double that figure. To accommodate increased tourism, Bednarek’s team is developing the Okefenokee Experience—a new front‑door concept that will include county‑wide entry points, a nature center, a cultural history museum, and a dark‑sky observatory.

She also challenged Southface to apply its sustainable building expertise to the swamp’s infrastructure, proposing facilities that manage water responsibly and withstand heat and fire.

Southface’s Ongoing Mission

Bessette emphasized that Southface will continue to focus on the fundamentals: celebrating community leaders, promoting sustainable building science, and advancing projects that protect natural resources while fostering economic growth for Georgia families.

Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.