News

The South Carolina Land Trust Network announced today that Lyles Cooper, Executive Director of Pee Dee Land Trust, has assumed the Board Chair role. She succeeds Ashley Demosthenes, who recently became the CEO of the Land Trust Alliance. Cooper has been a respected leader within the network, having served multiple terms as Treasurer and as one of the founding board members when the organization secured its 501(c)(3) status and appointed its first executive director.

Beginning her career in conservation almost thirty years ago, Ashley Demosthenes now serves as President and CEO of the Lowcountry Land Trust (LLT) and brings a wealth of knowledge to the South Carolina Land Trust Network (SCLTN).

September 5, 2024 - Columbia, SC - The South Carolina Land Trust today honored Senator Nikki Setzler for his lifetime of contributions to conservation in South Carolina. During the organization's Fall Member meeting, Setzler was presented with a coffee table book on the Cowassee Basin, an expansive area in the heart of Senate District 26 which he has represented for the last forty-eight years. Inside the front cover was a signed Board Resolution that read: In recognition and profound appreciation of Senator Nikki Setzler’s Service to the State of South Carolina Whereas South Carolina is blessed with rich and abundant natural, historical, and cultural resources and remarkable beauty; Whereas protecting these special places is paramount to our enviable quality of life and to the thousands of jobs provided by industries that depend on natural places; Whereas effective land protection work relies on committed people and proactive policies; Whereas for forty-seven years, Senator Nikki Setzler has served the people of South Carolina through his leadership in the South Carolina Senate, notably as Chairman of the Senate Finance Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee; Whereas his bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the South Carolina Conservation Bank have ensured the permanent protection of hundreds of special places, including the recently expanded Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve; Whereas he has championed conservation funding and voted in support of policies that financially incentivize private landowners to permanently protect their working farm and forestlands; Whereas his steadfast leadership has positioned investment in voluntary land conservation as an essential aspect of state governance to balance growth with quality of life today and for future generations:  Now, therefore, be it Resolved that the South Carolina Land Trust Network Board of Directors this fifth day of September 2024 formally acknowledges and extends its deepest appreciation for Senator Nikki Setzler’s exemplary service to the people of South Carolina.

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.  Read the full story on the Dorchester County website.

Greenville County's Historic & Natural Resources Trust partnered with the Community Foundation of Greenville to survey voters about their views on use of their tax dollars to protect open space. The results were overwhelmingly positive: Controlling growth and development topped the list of concerns; 91% were concerned about loss of open space; and 93.3% supported keeping funding at $2Million/year with a whopping 66% saying, invest more! Read the survey on the Greenville Historic and Natural Resources Trust website.

Jasper County’s Chelsea Plantation – the site of a proposed development that drew widespread, vocal opposition from citizens throughout the Lowcountry – has been purchased for conservation. The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina (TNC-SC) today announced the acquisition of the 2,737-acre property, identified as a high priority for conservation and under significant threat of development. Read the full story on The Nature Conservancy website.

Lowcountry Land Trust is excited to announce the permanent protection of the 35-acre Holly Grove property, which will serve as an official addition to the Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel, South Carolina. In collaboration with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), this strategic acquisition expands public access to nature, enhances water quality, and ensures the long-term conservation of vital habitats in one of Charleston County’s most ecologically and recreationally valuable public spaces. Read the full story on the Lowcountry Land Trust website .

Lowcountry Land Trust is proud to announce the permanent protection of an additional portion of Fairfield Plantation—an ecologically rich and historically significant property located on the South Santee River at the gateway to Charleston County along both sides of U.S. Highway 17. Read the full story on the Lowcountry Land Trust website.

The island consists of 28 acres of upland habitat surrounded by 393 acres of salt marsh. Thanks to a fully donated conservation easement, this pristine landscape will continue to support thriving wildlife, clean waterways, and the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. Read the full story on the Lowcountry Land Trust website.

This March, the Open Land Trust completed a project in partnership with the Rhodes family and key partner organizations to permanently protect 900 acres of their family land in the heart of the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin. This property known as Essex Farms includes 2.3 miles of river frontage, highly productive farm and forest land, and plays a vital role in maintaining the rural character of the Dale community in northern Beaufort County. Read the full story on the Open Land Trust website.

The property features a high bluff overlooking the Ashley River and contains significant wetlands and wildlife habitat. It contributes to the longstanding effort to conserve land of cultural, historical, and ecological importance in the 24,000-acre Ashley River Historic District. Read the full story on the Lowcountry Land Trust website.

Lowcountry Land Trust is thrilled to announce the successful acquisition, protection, and transfer of Main Road Park on Johns Island. This 40-acre landmark project, fully funded by the Charleston County Greenbelt Program, ensures that a vital greenspace remains free from development while providing both active and passive recreational opportunities for the community. Read the full story on the Lowcountry Land Trust website.

The GIS & Conservation Planning Manager is a mission-driven, personable, and self-motivated individual. This position is critical to the successful and efficient function of the Conservation Department, in addition to serving as a cross-departmental resource for the organization. This GIS & Conservation Planning Manager is responsible for creating and managing all of the GIS (Geographic Information System) data, the ArcGIS Online web maps and the ArcGIS Field Maps app, the Landscape database portfolio and spatial data; and creating maps for prospective easements, legal documents, conservation value analysis, planning initiatives, and events. The work environment is dynamic and fast-paced, with a significant number of concurrent projects underway at all times. How to Apply: Application Instructions: To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, four (4) references (including someone who has supervised you), and three (3) examples of mapping created personally by you; in one PDF addressed to careers@lowcountrylandtrust.org . To learn more, click here.