This series consists of original records created by the Georgia Natural Areas Council during its tenure from 1966-1973. Created by House Bill 304 during the 1966 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, the council's main objective was for the preservation of natural areas, meaning "a tract of land in its natural state set aside and permanently protected or managed for the purpose of preservation of native plant or animal communities or rare or valuable individual members of such communities or any other natural features of outstanding scenic or geological value." The Council consisted of 8 members, one each appointed from the State Game and Fish Commission, State Forestry Commission, Department of State Parks and the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and 2 each appointed from the University System of Georgia and the Private Colleges and Universities of the State. The representative of the Department of State Parks shall be the Secretary and Executive Officer of the Council and the State Parks Department shall be the administrative agent of the Council. The duties, powers and authority of the Council are as follows: 1) Determine the acceptance or rejection of areas of special scientific interest that may be offered as a donation by individuals or organizations for preservation. 2) Make recommendations to appropriate federal agencies or national scientific organizations of areas in the State that are considered worthy to be listed as natural areas of national importance. 3) Advise the parks department and other agencies on matters pertaining to gifts, grants, donations, acquisition, development, utilization and maintenance of natural areas, including determinations as to the extent of multiple use that may be allowed on approved natural areas that are a part of a state park, state forest, public hunting ground or similar property. 4) Prepare and publish an official state list of natural areas available for research and the teachings of conservation and natural history, and recommend publication of studies made in connection with these areas. 5) Cooperate with federal agencies, other states, counties, or organizations concerned with similar purposes. 6) Take such action as may be deemed advisable to facilitate the administration, development, maintenance or protection of the natural area system or any part or parts thereof. (Georgia Laws 1966 Session, General Acts and Resolutions, Vol. 1, pp. 331, 332, 333).