Nature Conservancy grows its Lowcountry presence

From the ACE Basin to the Santee Delta, and from the Savannah River to the Pee Dee, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is working every day to protect the Lowcountry's natural resources. These include forests, river corridors, coastal waters, and salt marsh, all of which are critical to the quality of life for the people of South Carolina and to our state's economy.

TNC's first South Carolina project was a partnership with the National Audubon Society in 1969 to establish the Francis Beidler Forest, one of the last tracts of ancient-growth cypress forest.

During the following 40 years, we have partnered with a number of organizations and agencies, including S.C. Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, S.C. Conservation Bank, Charleston County Greenbelt Bank, Ducks Unlimited, Lowcountry Open Land Trust, Edisto Island Open Land Trust, and many private landowners to establish and add to a number of protected areas in the Lowcountry.

The ACE Basin Task Force is a compelling example of a public-private conservation partnership. TNC was one of four founding partners of the task force, and since 1989, the partnership has made remarkable progress, protecting 195,000 acres in the lower watersheds of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, as well as the islands, beaches, marshes and oyster reefs of St. Helena Sound. Since our inception in 1969, TNC has protected more than 322,000 acres in South Carolina.

Our state has an abundance of wildlife, plants and ecosystems. The Lowcountry's coastal plain is a unique cluster of habitats requiring ongoing protection. Our longleaf pine forests, extensive wetlands, and coastal waters are some of the best remaining and most productive habitats of their kind.

We cannot assume that these valuable natural communities will remain healthy without the benefit of continued conservation efforts.

In fact, South Carolina ranks 40th among all states in land area and 10th among states in both population growth rate and rate of rural to urban land conversion. This rapid growth and land conversion highlights the importance of stepping up our efforts to sustain our most important natural areas for future generations.

There must be a balance between protecting our natural habitats and promoting economic growth. Indeed, the two reinforce each other in a most significant way: our state's top two industries are tourism and forestry. TNC's work protects the natural resources, aesthetic beauty, and recreation opportunities that contribute to our quality of life and bring tourists to the Lowcountry. Our land protection supports forestry, the state's second leading industry and top wage-payer.

As development continues and climate change becomes a growing concern, there will be even more demand for leadership and collaboration. Mark Robertson, our Executive Director, says: 'Our vision will be trained on how to integrate conservation with sustainable economic development — how our work fits with agriculture, forestry, the demand for water — how we can find that balance and have enough resources for people and nature.' Consistent with our mission, TNC is taking a lead, nationally, to address the issues surrounding climate change.

TNC operates local offices in Charleston and McClellanville, with conservation staff working not only in the Lowcountry, but throughout the state.

To further support our Lowcountry engagement, 15 TNC trustees live and work here: Andy Anderson, Ann Baruch, Wise Batten, Frank Brumley, Hal Cottingham, Larry Fuller, Richard Heusel, Jessica Loring, Bill Lowrie, Tom Mauldin, Lane Morrison, Dr. Richard Porcher, Terry Richardson, the Hon. Alex Sanders, and Joe Williams, trustee emeritus.

The Nature Conservancy has been at the forefront of the conservation effort for more than four decades, and we want to say how much we value and need the support of the community and the Conservancy's members.

Arnold Nemirow,

former CEO and president of Bowater Inc., is chairman of The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina.

Bob Baugh

is the former human resources director of Mitsubishi Polyster Film and former chairman of The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina.