The largest habitat conservation purchase in the state’s history is one-step closer to completion with the acquisition of 39,000-acres of working forestland, recreational lands and wildlife habitat by the State of South Carolina, The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy. In March, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy and the State of South Carolina announced an agreement to purchase two forest parcels, 25,668-acres in Marion County known as the Woodbury tract and 13,281-acres in Hampton County known as Hamilton Ridge, from International Paper. Last week, The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy jointly acquired the properties, and an undivided interest in the land was immediately transferred to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The closing brings the total amount of land protected during Governor Sanford’s administration to nearly 78,000-acres — more than any previous administration in our state’s history.
DNR utilized $10 million from the S.C. Conservation Bank and approximately $20 million from the Heritage Trust bond bill legislation to acquire a majority interest in the property. The remaining interest will be purchased when additional federal funds become available, next spring.
Earlier this year, Governor Mark Sanford signed into law the Conservation Bond Act allowing the South Carolina Heritage Trust to borrow about $32 million for forest acquisition across the state.
“The quality of life in our state is going to be an increasingly important part of South Carolina’s competitive edge when it comes to the global race for jobs and investment,” Gov. Sanford said. “The closing on these tracts –along with our ongoing efforts to protect other ecologically significant land in the state — is an important step toward preserving the way we look and feel as a state and preserve our competitive advantage with respect to our quality of life.”
In addition to providing recreational opportunities, these forests protect large tracts of habitat for several important wildlife and aquatic species, including such birds as the Kentucky warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, rusty blackbird, swallow-tailed kite, Swainson’s warbler and others. The protection of these tracts will provide river corridor protection to 27 miles on the Great Pee Dee, 11 miles on the Little Pee Dee and eight miles on the Savannah River.
“This has been a great partnership, committed to conserving South Carolina’s natural heritage,” said Mark Robertson, The Nature Conservancy’s South Carolina executive director. “Our partnership has accomplished something truly inspiring. It will benefit generations of South Carolinians who love the state’s natural habitats and appreciate the recreational opportunities, the clean water, clean air and abundant wildlife they provide.”
“This historic transaction demonstrates the compatibility of environmental, recreational and economic interests and is a testimony to International Paper’s legacy of sustainably managing healthy, working forestlands and protecting special places in the forest for 108 years,”
said David Liebetreu, International Paper’s vice president of forest resources. “It’s an honor to collaborate with The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy and the State of South Carolina to protect some of the state’s most ecologically significant forestlands so they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come.”
Be the first to comment