promise
flows from here
Georgia’s 100-mile coast has a rich past, a vibrant present, and a promising future. Leaders of all ages and backgrounds are teaming up to foster sustainability and spur innovation — all in the name of safeguarding this remarkable place for generations to come.
Our Georgia Coast: a campaign to keep our coast flowing.
This is a place unlike any other. Coastal Georgia stretches for 100 miles and features 14 major barrier islands, nearly 400,000 acres of salt marsh, and some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Not only does our region support dozens of high-priority plant and animal species, it’s also home to historic communities and an important driver of Georgia’s economy. Our Georgia Coast is a campaign to expand awareness, deepen understanding, and promote ways to get involved in our coast’s preservation.
Our Georgia Coast: a campaign designed to keep it all flowing.
This is a place unlike any other. Coastal Georgia stretches for 100 miles and features 14 major barrier islands, nearly 400,000 acres of salt marsh, and some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Not only does our region support dozens of high-priority plant and animal species, but it’s also home to historic communities and an important driver of Georgia’s economy. Our Georgia Coast is a campaign made to expand awareness, deepen education, and promote ways to get involved in its preservation.
One Hundred Miles is leading the effort to protect Georgia’s coast for future generations.
Through advocacy, education, and citizen engagement, One Hundred Miles works to protect and preserve Georgia’s 100-mile coast—forever. Together, we are creating a future where our coast has thriving communities, protected landscapes, and secure wildlife. By sharing the stories of Our Georgia Coast, we hope to amplify the efforts of our dedicated conservation partners and share new ways to get involved—building a groundswell of Georgians dedicated to keeping our coast flourishing for generations to come.
Join the coalition working to protect Georgia’s unparalleled coast.
Sign up with your full mailing address so we can send you our limited-edition I Love Georgia’s Coast magnet! You’ll receive updates on issues facing our coast, action alerts, and our newsletter, The Monthly Mile.
Join the coalition working to protect Georgia’s unparalleled coast.
Sign up with your mailing address and we’ll send you our limited-edition I Love Georgia’s Coast magnet! You’ll receive updates on issues facing our coast, action alerts, and our newsletter, The Monthly Mile.
Hear what makes this place so special from the people who value it most.
Endless stories flow from here. A patchwork of conservationists, educators, researchers, and advocates all work together toward a common goal — to protect coastal Georgia’s communities, wild species, and the habitats on which they all depend. Learn more about the people working to help protect our coast and preserve the ecology and character of this special region for generations to come.
Christi Lambert
Meet Christi Lambert, Director of Coastal + Marine Conservation, TNC
Christi Lambert is the Coast and Marine Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia and board member of Shell to Shore, a non-profit oyster shell recycling program based across Georgia. Working with the Conservancy since 1991, Christi has led a wide range of programs and projects throughout Georgia and has built strong partner relationships that have resulted in significant conservation successes.
A native Georgian, Christi studied biology and chemistry at Short Coller and Berry College, and ecology and geography at the University of Georgia.
Meet Dr. Brian Shamblin, Associate Research Scientist, UGA
Dr. Brian Shamblin is an Associate Research Scientist at the University of Georgia. His Master of Science and Ph.D. research addressed the genetic structure and spatial ecology of Northwest Atlantic loggerhead turtle and green turtles. His lab uses genetic and genomic tools to inform management and conservation of threatened and endangered species. Their largest and longest running project uses genetic tagging to assign loggerhead turtle nests to unseen mothers, allowing them to track the dynamics and relatedness of the population.
Meet Dr. Brian Shamblin, Sr. Research Scientist, UGA
Dr. Brian Shamblin is an Associate Research Scientist at the University of Georgia. His Master of Science and Ph.D. research addressed the genetic structure and spatial ecology of Northwest Atlantic loggerhead turtle and green turtles. His lab uses genetic and genomic tools to inform management and conservation of threatened and endangered species. Their largest and longest running project uses genetic tagging to assign loggerhead turtle nests to unseen mothers, allowing them to track the dynamics and relatedness of the population.
Anita Collins, BRAG Dream Team Coach
Meet Anita Collins, BRAG Dream Team Coach
Anita Collins is a Gullah/Geechee who was born and reared in Brunswick, Georgia. Since January 2017, she has been a coach with the BRAG Dream Team Gullah/Geechee Club, a youth cycling program that empowers young people to develop leadership skills through long distance bike rides.
Donations for the BRAG Dream Team Gullah/Geechee Club can be made online at bragdreamteam.org; donors should indicate the donation is for the Gullah/Geechee Club.
Meet Hannah Bonvechio, Student + Activist
Hannah Bonvechio is a student at Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Georgia who has a deep love of the ocean and passion for conservation. She has led different environmental projects since the age of 5, including her “Trash for Turtles” project that helped raise over $10,000 for sea turtle and shark conservation efforts. She has also been involved with dozens of clean ups and community outreach programs, water chemistry monitoring, blogging for EarthInspiredKids.com, and volunteering with sea turtle and shark research and monitoring. She hopes to pursue a degree in mathematics or engineering in college but, more importantly, to continue making a difference in the world.
Hannah Bonvechio
Hannah Bonchevio
Meet Hannah Bonchevio, Student + Activist
Hannah Bonvechio is a student at Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Georgia who has a deep love of the ocean and passion for conservation. She has led different environmental projects since the age of 5, including her “Trash for Turtles” project that helped raise over $10,000 for sea turtle and shark conservation efforts. She has also been involved with dozens of clean ups and community outreach programs, water chemistry monitoring, blogging for EarthInspiredKids.com, and volunteering with sea turtle and shark research and monitoring. She hopes to pursue a degree in mathematics or engineering in college but, more importantly, to continue making a difference in the world.
Zack Gowen
Meet Zack Gowen, Owner, GA Sea Grill + Potlikker Farm
Zack Gowen is celebrating nearly 10 years as proprietor of Georgia Sea Grill, a fine dining restaurant that offers an award-winning experience and established reputation for exceptionally prepared, locally sourced cuisine. Zack was no stranger to the restaurant business, having learned at the age of 15, with his first food service job in the Golden Isles, that he enjoyed making people happy.
Zack’s time is shared between his family and several other successful businesses that make up The Georgia Sea Grill Collective, which includes Three Little Birds – Fly In. Fly Out., a breakfast and lunch eatery that features prepared meals for dining in or taking out; The Nest, a casual hangout that offers small-plate specialties and full bar; as well as two sustainable farming endeavors that supply his restaurants. On Blythe Island’s Potlikker Farm, Zack and his team grow seasonal Southern produce year-round, while his sustainably managed and ethically harvested catfish farm, Satilla Ponds, is in nearby Camden County. Additionally, Zack is part-owner of the historic Village Creek Landing, the waterfront event venue on St. Simons Island that overlooks sweeping tidal marshes and hosts weddings, special events and meetings.
Partners of Our Georgia Coast
The Our Georgia Coast campaign is designed to shine a spotlight on the essential work of our partners in preservation. We encourage you to learn more
about the inspiring coastal Georgians featured in this first video series—visit their websites to learn more and support their efforts.
