The Athens-Clarke County Sustainability Department works hard to protect native ecosystems through a combination of preservation, restoration and prevention. Maintaining a biologically diverse and fully functioning ecosystem is crucial for preserving the natural resources that support our lives. We rely on the complex interactions of our environment to provide natural resources, cycle nutrients, provide us with the food we eat and water we drink, and even supply us with the air we breath. 

A lot of the imbalance that exists in current ecosystems is because of human actions whether that be deforestation, pollution, the introduction of invasive species or causing global warming. The Sustainability Department is working to ensure Athens-Clarke County land will continue to thrive for generations to come. We work to preserve historically and environmentally significant land features.

Through projects like the Legacy Forest Program and Greenspace acquisition, as well as land ordinances and conservation easements, we promote sustainable land use. 

With thoughtful, research-based decision making Athens-Clarke County will be able to pass along a healthy, biologically rich ecosystem to future Athenians while improving the lives of the people who currently live is Athens-Clarke County.