The Mobile Tenso Delta in Alabama, a significant conservation area, has been renamed to honor distinguished biologist Edward Osborne Wilson, who hails from the state. Both the Nature Conservancy and the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation have revealed that almost 8,000 acres of preserved land will now be referred to as EO Wilson’s land between the rivers.
The announcement, which coincided with what would have been Wilson’s 96th birthday, was marked by a webinar on June 10, focusing on community, culture, and scientific contributions to conservation.
According to Mitch Reed, director of Alabama’s Nature Reserve, “No one is more delta-related than EO Wilson. The delta is as unique and iconic as Dr. Wilson, making it fitting for his name and legacy to be connected with the place that inspired his remarkable journey.”
The Mobile Tenso Delta, often called the “American Amazon” due to its rich biodiversity, is the second-largest intact delta system in North America. It was within these wetlands and highlands that Wilson’s profound curiosity for nature blossomed during childhood, ultimately contributing to his influential role in global conservation.
This region is home to a rich array of species including delta saws, red-bellied turtles, endangered Alabama sturgeons, and the largest American crocodile population in Alabama. It also harbors the state’s last breeding population of black bears and is crucial for migratory birds.
Paula J. Ehrlich, President and CEO of the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, noted, “This place has significantly shaped many of the global conservation principles he championed. I like to think of his spirit being present there always.”
The land was acquired in 2024 by a nature reserve, aided by support from the Holdfast Group in Patagonia. Historically, the area was inhabited by the Naniaba people, referred to as “fish eaters,” who lived alongside the rivers and served as neutral facilitators between the Choctaw and Creek tribes.
The Nature Conservancy and the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation reaffirmed their dedication to preserving this land for the benefit of both people and wildlife.
