Causes:
Environment,
Land Resources Conservation
Mission: To honor the relationship between people and land by protecting irreplaceable lowcountry lands including working farms and forests, scenic vistas, relatively natural habitats and historic landscapes using both established and innovative conservation approaches. Since 1986, llt has permanently protected 344 properties encompassing over 138,860 acres spanning the 17 counties of south carolina's coastal plain. The properties include working farms and forestlands, waterways and watersheds, hunting properties, hummock islands, vibrant marsh tidal ecosystems, blackwater streams and longleaf pine restoration areas.
Programs: Land protection:the lowcountry land trust (llt) continued its upward trajectory in 2017, completing 3 conservation easement projects and 1 fee simple acquisition to permanently protect an additional 3,472 acres, bringing its total protected acreage to 138,860 acres. Of particular note, the largest easement of approximately 2,800 acres in the ace basin was purchased at a bargain sale in conjunction with a $1,000,000 nawca grant. The remaining two conservation easements were donated by private landowners and added to existing conservation easements. Additionally, the acquisition of hyde park plantation (589 acres) was made possible by a combination of funds from the east branch revolving land fund and private financing. This acquisition complements decades of conservation efforts, both public and private, in the historic cooper river corridor. In addition, llt has been involved in conservation planning with conservation and community partners, the business community, and academic institutions both at the regional and local scales to identify conservation opportunities, and develop new and creative tools for land protection, stabilization, management and stewardship.
stewardship:in the 2016 calendar year, the lowcountry land trust monitored 100% of its protected properties (conservation easements, deed restrictions and fee-owned) by on-the-ground monitoring. In addition, green eyes aero provided extensive aerial monitoring services to enhance our annual easement monitoring efforts. We maintained a high standard to meet with a majority of landowners at the close of our 2016 monitoring visits. By engaging with landowners we hope to learn not only about their protected property but how we can be of assistance and be used as tool to enhance their work on the land. Stewardship staff continued working on the restoration/mitigation activities on the keystone and french quarter creek properties. Stewardship activities also included a living shoreline installation in partnership with the nature conservancy at gold bug island, a conservation easement property. For the fiscal year july 1, 2016 - june 30, 2017, one (1) conservation easement was amended to add acreage. None were extinguished.
education & community relations (ecr):-completed a cultural survey that authentically engaged johns island community leaders. -soul of the lowcountry programming was fully developed and scheduled out to include a new facet known as soul ambassador events. Three (3) soul ambassadors volunteered to host educational experiences that creatively connect people to conservation and land. Further a mission statement for the soul program was developed and approved. -conducted a business breakfast, to highlight and raise awareness around the land trust's regional planning efforts, as well as relevant public policy initiatives including the sc conservation bank and charleston county greenbelt program. -continued the implementation and execution of organization and programmatic rebranding efforts, including the development of a new website. -created tailored and enhanced communications for both traditional and non-traditional audiences using in-house design efforts and content creation.
