The Georgia Conservancy

10/02/2026

Looking for a team-building experience your colleagues will talk about for years?

On November 6, business leaders and community members will rappel 22 stories down the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead to raise funds for the Georgia Conservancy. Over the Edge has helped nonprofits raise more than $70 million worldwide, and this is our chance to bring it to Atlanta's skyline.

Form a team, rally your workplace around a fundraising page, and support the protection of Georgia's natural places and outdoor recreation statewide.

Learn more and register: https://georgiaconservancy.org/event/over-the-edge/

10/01/2026

Where and how we build housing is directly tied to land and resource consumption. That’s why Georgia Conservancy is approaching our state’s housing challenges through the lens of land and water conservation.

Through a new housing study for the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia Conservancy is helping local leaders better understand housing needs and development and conservation opportunities.

Learn more and read our final report:

Where and how we build housing is directly tied to land and resource consumption. That’s why Georgia Conservancy is approaching […]

09/30/2026

Tag your best friend. Tag your most dramatic coworker. Tag the person who said "I'd do anything for the outdoors."

Now dare them to go Over the Edge with you.

Team up, share one fundraising page, and rappel 22 stories together on November 6. Bragging rights included.

Start your team: https://georgiaconservancy.org/event/over-the-edge/

09/30/2026

**PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH TODAY, SEPTEMBER 30**

Georgia regulators are proposing new rules for private recreational docks in coastal marshes.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has issued revised draft rules for private recreational dock construction and is now soliciting public comment. Those comments are due by September 30, 2026.

Currently, there are no formal rules governing the design, placement, or approval of private recreational docks in Georgia’s coastal marshland, only internal guidance. CRD is now preparing to formalize these guidance policies, and today’s decisions will shape the future of our coast for generations to come.

Georgia Conservancy encourages DNR to maintain the current policy limiting dock size and adopt stronger regulations governing their construction and maintenance. These protections are necessary to preserve the ecological, scenic, and public value of our coastal marshlands now and for future generations.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) held a town hall on September 4 in Brunswick to present and receive public input on new proposed rules for private recreational dock construction.The decisions of CRD will directly impact the future of our coastal mar...

09/28/2026

09/28/2026

Things we're less afraid of than rappelling down a 22-story building:
🐍 Georgia snakes
🦟 Summer mosquitoes
🚗 I-85 at 5 PM

Things we're doing anyway, for Georgia's wild places: going Over the Edge on November 6.

Are you brave enough to join us? https://georgiaconservancy.org/event/over-the-edge/

09/24/2026

On Friday, November 6, we're going Over the Edge. 🧗

Rappel 22 stories down the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead and raise money to protect Georgia's most treasured natural places.

✅ Raise $1,000 (we'll give you a page and a toolkit)
✅ Or make a personal $1,000 gift to secure your spot
✅ Spots are limited

Register or donate:

NOVEMBER 6, 2026 // NOON – 5 PM Over The Edge InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, Atlanta REGISTER OR DONATE TODAY […]

09/24/2026

On September 17, we hosted our SAGE Speaker Series focused on sustainable growth in Georgia, a key program area of the Georgia Conservancy.

SAGE (Stewards and Advocates for Georgia’s Environment) is a new community within the Georgia Conservancy, bringing together women who care deeply about protecting our state’s natural resources and want to be more engaged, informed, and connected in that work.

As Georgia continues to grow, thoughtful planning is essential to protecting the landscapes, communities, and natural resources that make our state unique.

Participants heard from a panel of planning and development professionals as they discussed current growth trends, what sustainable growth and urban planning look like in practice, why they matter for Georgia’s future, and how Georgia Conservancy works with communities across the state to balance growth with land conservation and environmental stewardship.

On September 17, we hosted our SAGE Speaker Series focused on sustainable growth in Georgia, a key program area of […]

09/24/2026

Where and how we build housing is directly tied to land and resource consumption. That’s why Georgia Conservancy is approaching our state’s housing challenges through the lens of land and water conservation.

Through a housing study for the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia Conservancy is helping local leaders better understand housing needs and development and conservation opportunities.

“Georgia Conservancy provided an honest and detailed housing study and needs assessment for our community,” says Jason Rubenbauer, CEO of Waycross-Ware County Development Authority. “This information is critical for the many housing challenges that rural communities face. The data and facts presented allow our local governments to collaborate to address the needs, which will help promote stronger economic activity for a brighter future in a globally competitive landscape.”

The timing of the housing study is critical: throughout both Ware County and the City of Waycross, a shortage of available, quality homes is an increasingly urgent issue. Data suggests that 1 in 5 homes in the county, and 1 in 4 in the city, are vacant - meaning these homes are sitting empty during a time of soaring housing costs for homeowners and renters alike. In addition to a shortage of available homes, residents have diverse and evolving needs, including workforce housing and options for seniors and young professionals. Georgia Conservancy’s role is to address these needs through practical, context-sensitive strategies.

Where and how we build housing is directly tied to land and resource consumption. That’s why Georgia Conservancy is approaching […]

09/23/2026

In September, we hosted our annual Sapelo Island Service Weekend. From our home base at the University of Georgia Marine Institute, participants provided service work across campus and learned about island history and current events from UGA staff and island residents.

Sapelo is one of those places where the more time you spend there, the more complicated and interesting it becomes.

Over the weekend, participants explored how the island is managed through a unique combination of Georgia DNR, the University of Georgia Marine Institute, island residents, and community organizations, while also experiencing firsthand why its relative isolation has helped protect so much of its natural character.

In September, we hosted our annual Sapelo Island Service Weekend. From our home base at the University of Georgia Marine […]