SC Conservation Bank is funded for five more years

Haley applauded by conservation groups for signing legislation

Conservation and outdoor groups are applauding Gov. Nikki Haley for signing the bill renewing the South Carolina Conservation Bank, which has protected almost 160,000 acres of wildlife habitat and historic places, until 2018.

“This was a big year for the SC Conservation Bank,” said Cary Chamblee, a lobbyist for the S.C. Wildlife Federation and the S.C. Camo Coalition. “Thanks to the legislature and the governor for recognizing the need for long-term protection of wildlife habitat and making this significant investment in our future. Full-formula funding over the next five years could protect in the neighborhood of 75,000 acres.”

Full funding and extension of the Conservation Bank were top legislative priorities for the Federation and the Camo Coalition, an organization of two- dozen outdoor groups in the state, this year. By law, the Conservation Bank was scheduled to shut down in 2013 unless the General Assembly agreed to keep it open.

“The Bank will receive full-formula funding this year, estimated to be about $8 million. In addition to full funding, hunters and fishermen are very pleased that the legislature passed legislation, which was signed by Governor Haley, to extend the life of the Conservation Bank until 2018,” Chamblee said. “These are both huge wins for outdoors enthusiasts who support conservation of wildlife habitat.”

Members of the Camo Coalition were instrumental in both the passage of the legislation and in urging the governor to sign the bill, calling and e-mailing key legislators and the governor’s office.

“All the land purchased over the last nine-plus years is excellent wildlife habitat, and over a third of that, some 54,000 acres, has gone into the (SCNDR’s) Wildlife Management Area program,” Chamblee said.

The bulk of the lands brought into the WMA program were in the purchase of the Woodbury tract, a 25,668-acre site in Marion County, and Hamilton Ridge, a 13,281-acre tract in Hampton County.

Chamblee also said the bank has been a real bargain for South Carolina citizens.

“Over the life of the bank, the average cost to the bank has been about $524 an acre. The remaining cost has been borne by private contributions, non-profits and federal funding,” he said. “The bank does not own or buy land itself. It provides grants to three state agencies to acquire land: the Department of Natural Resources, Parks, Recreation and Tourism; and the S.C. Forestry Commission.”

SCDNR has taken the most advantage of the banks’ funding, he said, and all the land acquired goes into the WMA program for public use.