Cumberland Island National Seashore and Wilderness in southern Georgia is the largest undeveloped barrier island on the eastern seaboard and one of the gems of America’s National Park system. Massive live oak maritime forests, saltwater marshes, and a spectacular white sand beach—home to loggerhead sea turtles—are remarkable to experience. Cumberland Island’s unique ecological values are why the United Nations designated it an international biosphere reserve. The National Park Service (NPS) is asking for public input on four proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island. While the proposal released for public review lacks a lot of necessary information, it’s clear from what’s been provided that the exchanges would benefit the private interests far more than the public interest, and would undermine Congress’ intent when the seashore and Wilderness were established—that the island would be allowed to rewild over time. Please speak up by October 20 and tell the NPS, “No land exchanges on Cumberland Island!” Once the private enclave of wealthy families, the federal government acquired most of the private land on Cumberland Island in the 1960s to save it from real estate development like that which had beset many other barrier islands. Then Congress established the Cumberland Island National Seashore in 1972. Many of the previous land owners—as part of the deal when selling their land—retained the right to occupy the land for a specified period of time. Some of these “retained rights” have already expired and all eventually will. In 1982, Congress designated much of the island’s northern two-thirds as the Cumberland Island Wilderness, or as potential Wilderness in areas where retained rights exist. Already quite a treasure, Cumberland Island was on the path to wild restoration and becoming one of the premier Wildernesses in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Unfortunately, some of the retained rights owners or their heirs have worked to undo the deals made decades ago by trying to regain complete private ownership of lands that are currently part of the national seashore and potential Wilderness. They’ve recently been working behind the scenes with the NPS to make that happen—the proposal before us now is the result of those backroom deals. Though the details provided are vague, it appears some of the lands NPS is proposing to “acquire” are lands the federal government already bought from the families that are trying to regain title to them. It’s a good deal for the private interests, but a terrible one for the public and will undermine six decades of rewilding Cumberland Island. The National Park Service is now seeking public comment on the four proposed land exchanges. We strongly urge you to send your comments to the NPS at the following link: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=137987 |
