Landmark Conservation Initiative Led by the Open Space Institute Protects 1,700 Acres in Beaufort County for Clean Water and Recreation
December 11, 2025
In a transformative step for conservation and community, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and Open Land Trust (OLT) are proud to announce the permanent protection of more than 1,700 acres of ecologically vital land at the intersection of three counties and two rivers. This initiative—which will ultimately save nearly 3,000 acres—will create a new state forest in southwest South Carolina, safeguarding vital water resources and cultural heritage for generations to come.
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Lowcountry Land Trust is proud to announce the permanent protection of 296 acres in the Town of St. George in Dorchester County, through a conservation easement on the Utsey Tract. Read more at Lowcountry Land Trust→
Congaree Land Trust is seeking a highly skilled and personable Stewardship & GIS Manager (SGM) who will work within our Conservation Program and be responsible for multiple aspects of conservation easement stewardship and geospatial data management. The SGM will coordinate annual monitoring of more than 220 easement and fee-simple properties and assist in additional stewardship activities including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, landowner correspondence, and management of easement compliance issues. Utilizing Esri products and other mapping software, the SGM will also develop, implement and manage geospatial data related to existing and prospective easements, as well as the production of maps and reports for the organization. This position plays a critical role in the long-term integrity of Congaree Land Trust and its permanent conservation easements, so the SGM will uphold national standards and practices for easement stewardship. To learn more, visit Congaree Land Trust's website.
The American Battlefield Trust today announced the acquisition of an approximately 160-acre property within the footprint of the Battle of Hanging Rock in rural Lancaster County. The property is the sixth parcel acquired to support ongoing protection and interpretation efforts at one of South Carolina’s newest battlefield parks. With this current purchase, the protected acres at the Hanging Rock battlefield now total 330 acres.
