Open Space Institute, Francis Marion University, Florence County, Darla Moore Foundation, and State Partners Save 8,500 Acres Along Great Pee Dee River
January 22, 2026
The Open Space Institute (OSI), in coordination with Francis Marion University (FMU), the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR), South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB), Darla Moore Foundation, Florence County and a coalition of additional partners, has acquired nearly 8,500 acres in Florence and Darlington Counties.
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The Open Land Trust (OLT) seeks an experienced and community-minded Executive Director to lead South Carolina's first and oldest land trust into its next chapter of conservation impact across the southern Lowcountry. Founded in 1971, the Open Land Trust is South Carolina's first and oldest land trust, protecting the landscapes, working lands, wildlife habitat, and cultural heritage that define the southern Lowcountry. Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, OLT has permanently protected more than 38,000 acres across seven counties through 118 conservation easements and 49 fee-owned properties. Our mission is simple and enduring: to protect and conserve Lowcountry land, forever. What sets the Open Land Trust apart is our commitment to community. We work alongside landowners, local governments, nonprofit partners, and residents to create lasting conservation solutions that reflect the values of the communities we serve. From protecting family farms and expanding public access to nature to conserving military compatibility lands and historic landscapes, we believe conservation is about people as much as place. Based in Beaufort, South Carolina, OLT is guided by a dedicated professional staff and an engaged volunteer Board of Directors. To learn more, visit Open Land Trust's website .
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.
