Boyles Island

Boyles Island
Boyles Island is 6,300 acres of dry land that barely rises above the waters and wetlands of the Altamaha River in Wayne County. It has long served as a remote sanctuary for sensitive wildlife and peace-seeking Georgians alike a place where enterprising hikers, paddlers, anglers and hunters encounter the most pristine environment that coastal Georgia has to offer. Contrary to appearances, the solitude available to Boyles Island's visitors is not the result of being left alone. The island's protection is the product of years of hard work by some of the state's most dedicated and influential leaders. This work culminated in 2012, when the State of Georgia acquired Boyles Island from Rayonier Timber Company for $8.2 million. "I grew up in this area and actually learned to shoot a shotgun on Boyles Island, so I am personally proud of this land protection success," said Mark Abner, Georgia Director of the Nature Conservancy. "The permanent protection of Boyles Island, a rare ecological gem, is an example of what can be accomplished when Georgians work together to protect our heritage," said Pierre Howard, former Lieutenant Governor and current Georgia Conservancy President.
(Over)
1

In all, the State now controls roughly 85,000 permanently protected acres in the Altamaha Delta, which adjoin an additional 25,000 acres of land protected by federal agencies and non-government entities (see map below).
This connectivity is good for both native wildlife and human visitors. Large contiguous natural areas support a broader diversity of species. Consequently, "Boyles is full of endangered species from mussels to birds and turtles and provides incredible bird watching", says former DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb.
Likewise, tourists are attracted by the abundance of wildlife and privacy on the lower Altamaha River. For instance, boaters who `put in' at Jesup can float past Boyles Island for 60 miles to the Atlantic Ocean without passing one building.

NGO, $1.2M
State, $2.0M

Federal, $5.0M

For more information about how the state of Georgia permanently protects wildlife, water, historic and recreational resources, contact the GLCP using our website or the address
and phone number below.
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Land Conservation Program
233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 900 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-584-1000

The State of Georgia works with many partners to fund the protection and management of Boyles Island and the entire Altamaha Delta. Federal agencies ( U.S. Marine Corps and Fish &
Wildlife Service) granted $5 million to the project. Georgia, through the Governor's Office and Department
of Natural Resources, set aside $2 million to purchase Boyles Island, while the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP) provided low-interest `bridge' financing to complete the land purchase. Non-government organizations (Nature Conservancy & Knobloch Foundation) contributed $1.2 million.
2

3

4

5