Preserving Georgia's Trails

Georgia's trails at risk

Georgia's hiking trails contain some of our most beautiful scenery and give us a gateway to undisturbed wilderness. Trails like the Appalachian Trail, which starts in Georgia, showcase our state's cool mountain streams, dense forests and amazing vistas.

Unfortunately, parts of these trails, and much of the wild areas they display, are privately owned and lack long-term protections. And, as these private lands come up for sale, state and federal agencies do not have adequate resources to purchase and preserve them for future generations.

According to studies conducted by the University of Georgia, we lose more than 100 acres of green space per day to housing developments, strip malls, parking lots and more. Like much of the green space in Georgia, these trails might soon be threatened by development.

A unique opportunity to protect our trails

For the past 45 years, Congress and the White House have spent special funds that were designated to protect and preserve our country's most breathtaking scenery on unrelated projects. Now, despite the president's support for full funding, the House of Representatives has proposed funding the program at its lowest-ever level.

Today, it's too easy to picture treasured pieces of Georgia's natural heritage being sold off to the highest bidder. Now is the time to take the preservation of our remaining green spaces seriously.

That's why Environment Georgia and our allies are calling on Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund — and fight to put those dollars to work protecting Georgia's trails and the green spaces that surround them.

With your activism and our advocacy, we can protect our trails

We refuse to watch our natural heritage vanish — and we have a plan to convince state leaders to get serious about funding the Land and Water Conservation program and saving Georgia's beautiful open spaces. We're bringing together Georgians from all walks of life to protect our parks. All of us — bird-watchers, hikers, tourism businesses and Georgians across the state — have something to fight for.

Thousands of you have joined the fight too. Across the state, you're calling or emailing our senators, signing petitions, spreading the word to your friends and family, and speaking out at official hearings. Join our campaign by sending a message to your senators today.