Advocacy

State Flower Campaign

Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) was designated as the state flower of Georgia in 1916 under the mistaken belief that it was indigenous to Georgia; however, it is indigenous to Asia, and its introduction to Georgia was the result of deliberate cultivation. Considering the importance of promoting native plant species in the state’s identity and environmental conservation efforts, it is appropriate to replace the non-native, invasive Cherokee Rose with a native plant that represents Georgia’s natural heritage. GNPS suggests Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), a native tree found throughout the state, as an excellent species to represent Georgia as its state flower. It is a host plant for Georgia’s state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, therefore contributing to vital pollinator habitat and ecological diversity that makes Georgia one of the richest landscapes in the United States.

Read more on our info sheet, A Proposal to Change the State Flower.

FEBRUARY 23, 2024 UPDATE: Senate Bill 518, an act to change the state flower to Sweetbay Magnolia, passed unanimously in the Senate Committee for Economic Development. Georgia residents are encouraged to write to their State Senator asking for their support of SB 518 before crossover day on February 29th. You can contact your Senator through the Georgia General Assembly webpage.

Conservation Issues to Support

The significant Georgia conservation issues listed here have been reviewed and approved by the Advocacy Committee and are deemed to be in support of the GNPS mission statement: To promote the conservation and stewardship of Georgia’s native plants and their habitats through education and with the involvement of individuals and organizations.

Okefenokee Swamp

At 438,000-acres, the Okefenokee is North America’s largest blackwater wetland, sheltering a vast mosaic of pine islands, cypress forests and blackwater channels. Undisturbed by encroachment of agriculture or other development, the Okefenokee remains one of the world’s healthiest large-scale freshwater ecosystems, sheltering diverse habitats and an incredible array of plants and wildlife. There is an abundance of imperiled species that call the refuge home. However, plans for heavy mineral sand mining cover an expanse of roughly 8,000-acres next to the refuge and put these species, the Swamp and surround communities at great risk.

Please find more information on the Okefenokee Protection Alliance website.

Jekyll Island

The beach and dune systems of Jekyll Island are the most important habitats to protect and restore on the island. There are development proposals affecting state-owned land on Jekyll Island which is a sensitive location–beach front of a Georgia barrier island that serves as important habitat for many forms of wildlife, including nesting areas for the loggerhead turtle.

Please find more information on the Save Jekyll Island website.