Preserve Conservation Bank

The Conservation Land Bank, nearly dormant since its state funding was stripped away last year, should remain high on the Legislature's radar screen to ensure it is not gutted altogether. Unfortunately, that now seems to be a real possibility. First and foremost, funding should be provided to cover existing commitments.

We had hoped that the House Ways and Means Committee would vote to restore full funding — or at least $6.1 million needed to make good on last year's promises to help pay for 22 projects. But committee members recently opted to support other priorities.

Reps. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, and Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, both voted to restore funding, but acknowledged that the case to avoid additional cuts from educational and public health programs is compelling. Rep. Annette Young, R-Summerville, voted against restoring funding for the bank.

Rep. Pitts said the dilemma is particularly distressing because, of the 22 approved projects, five ($1.35 million in value) have already been completed, and individuals and organizations are out of pocket considerable amounts of money because the Conservation Bank can't deliver on its promises. The Conservation Bank uses its modest state allocation of about $12 million a year to leverage other sources of funding, both private and public, for land acquisition and the purchase of conservation easements.

The bank has been a noteworthy success. In less than five years, it has protected more than 152,000 acres of land at an average cost of $534 an acre. Included in that acreage are significant tracts in the Lowcountry, including Dorchester County's historic area along Ashley River Road.

While all state agencies are undergoing cuts, the Conservation Bank appears to be the only one whose entire budget will be eliminated unless the Legislature takes appropriate action.

The bank is funded by a portion of real estate transfer fees in the state, so a sluggish real estate market produces less funding anyway. But the same budget-breaking trends bring attractive land deals, and now is a good time to purchase affordable wetlands, woodlands and farmlands worthy of protecting.

Reps. Limehouse and Pitts are cautiously optimistic that the Conservation Bank will soon be back in business. They hope some federal stimulus money might become available for the Conservation Bank.

Regardless of such a windfall, legislators should recognize that conservation of the state's natural resources is an investment in the health of the economy. Our landscape and wide range of outdoor recreational activities are key reasons that people and businesses come to South Carolina.

The Conservation Bank is an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure the state's natural beauty for future generations, and it deserves to retain its modest allocation, now and in the future.