Dorchester County Partners with The Open Space Institute and The South Carolina Forestry Commission to Preserve 1,644 Acres of Lowcountry Forest
May 29, 2025
Dorchester County donated $4,125,000 in Greenbelt funds to the Open Space Institute towards the purchase of the Beech Hill Tract, a 1,644-acre property on Old Beech Hill Road between the Edisto River Wildlife Management Area and Givhan’s Ferry State Park in the East Edisto area of Dorchester County. The property will be transferred to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) and will become a State Forest, managed and operated by the SCFC. The property will be open to the public with recreational opportunities, such as wildlife viewing, hunting, hiking, and biking.
Recently Shared
Lowcountry Land Trust and Sea Island Habitat for Humanity are excited to announce an innovative partnership that will provide space for a new nature preserve and affordable housing on one of the largest undeveloped parcels remaining on northern Johns Island. The 102-acre Humbert Woods property will become a 97-acre nature preserve with an additional five acres designated for affordable homes adjacent to the Sweetgrass Preserve neighborhood. Read entire story with Lowcountry Land Trust→
The recently protected Shealy Farms Conservation Easement protects 20 acres of open space and 40 acres of remnant longleaf pine sandhill habitat supporting SWAP-listed species such as Southern fox squirrel, Southeastern American kestrel, and sandhill rosemary. This property also preserves 0.3 miles of scenic viewshed along Bethcar Church and Bluffwood Roads, helping to maintain the rural character of Aiken County in the Wagener area. Read entire story with Aiken Land Conservancy→
Florence County Council officially adopted their first Conservation Vision Plan which includes a goal to protect 30% of land through voluntary public aquisitions and conservation easements. SCLTN Land Trusts have been instrumental in supporting this exciting step towards proactive land protection and land use decisions for the future. Read the full story here.
