A major conservation landmark in Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta has been renamed in honor of world-renowned biologist and Alabama native Edward Osborne Wilson. The Nature Conservancy and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation announced that nearly 8,000 acres of protected land will now be called the E.O. Wilson Land Between the Rivers Preserve.
The announcement, timed with what would have been Wilson’s 96th birthday, was celebrated during a June 10 webinar exploring the role of community, culture, and science in conservation efforts.
“There is nobody more associated with the Delta than E.O. Wilson,” said Mitch Reid, Director of The Nature Conservancy in Alabama. “The Delta is as unique and iconic as Dr. Wilson, and it is fitting that his name and legacy be forever connected with the place that inspired him on his incredible journey.”
The Mobile-Tensaw Delta—dubbed “America’s Amazon” for its extraordinary biodiversity—is the second-largest intact delta system in North America. It was in these wetlands and uplands that Wilson, as a child, began his deep exploration of the natural world, ultimately leading to a legacy that reshaped global conservation science.
The region supports a rich array of species, including Delta sawbacks, red-bellied turtles, the endangered Alabama sturgeon, and Alabama’s largest population of American alligators. It is also home to the state’s last breeding population of black bears and serves as a crucial migratory corridor for birds.
“Nothing would have brought Ed more joy than knowing this extraordinarily important habitat will be protected,” said Paula J. Ehrlich, President & CEO of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. “This place inspired so much of the global conservation ethic he so keenly advanced. I’d like to imagine his spirit will always be there.”
The land was acquired in 2024 by The Nature Conservancy with support from Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective. Historically, the area was home to the Naniaba people, also known as “the fish eaters,” who lived between the rivers and served as a neutral presence between the Choctaw and Creek confederacies.
TNC and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation emphasized their commitment to preserving the land for both people and wildlife.
