to respect the interdependence of people and the earth by conserving important Lowcountry lands, such as active farms and forests, picturesque vistas, naturally occurring habitats, and historic landscapes, utilizing both tried-and-true and cutting-edge conservation techniques. Since 1986, the Coastal Plain of South Carolina has had 344 properties totaling more than 138,860 acres permanently protected by the Land Trust. Working farms and forests, waterways and watersheds, hunting properties, hummock islands, lively marsh tidal ecosystems, blackwater streams, and longleaf pine restoration zones are among the assets.
Land protection: the Lowcountry land trust (llt) completed three conservation easement projects and one fee simple acquisition to permanently protect an additional 3,472 acres, increasing its total protected acreage to 138,860 acres, in 2017. This was a continuation of the let's upward trajectory. It is noteworthy that a $1,000,000 nawca grant was used to purchase the largest easement in the Ace Basin, which covers over 2,800 acres. Private landowners contributed the final two conservation easements, which were added to those already in place. Additionally, a combination of monies from the East Branch Revolving Land Fund and private financing allowed for the purchase of Hyde Park Plantation (589 acres). This purchase completes decades of conservation work along the historic Cooper River corridor, both public and private. In order to identify conservation opportunities and create fresh and innovative tools for land protection, stabilization, management, and stewardship, llt has also been involved in conservation planning with conservation and community partners, the business community, and academic institutions both at the regional and local scales.
Stewardship: During the 2016 calendar year, the Lowcountry land trust conducted on-the-ground inspections of all of its protected properties (those with conservation easements, deed restrictions, and fee ownership). To supplement our yearly easement monitoring efforts, Green Eyes Aero also offered extensive aerial surveillance services. At the conclusion of our 2016 monitoring trips, we upheld a high level to satisfy the majority of landowners. We intend to learn more about landowners' protected properties as well as how we can help and be a tool to improve their work on the land by interacting with them. The restoration and mitigation projects on the keystone and french quarter creek lands were still being worked on by the stewardship staff. On Gold Bug Island, a property with a conservation easement, stewardship activities also included a living shoreline installation done in collaboration with the nature conservancy. One (1) conservation easement was amended to increase acres for the fiscal year from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. There were none put out.
Education and Community Relations (ECR): finished a cultural survey that genuine community leaders on Johns Island. -soul ambassador events, a new component of the programming for the soul of the Lowcountry, were thoroughly created and planned out. Three (3) soul ambassadors agreed to offer educational events that imaginatively link people to land and conservation. The soul program's mission statement was also created and accepted. -hosted a business breakfast to draw attention to and spread the word about the land trust's regional planning activities and other pertinent public policy initiatives, such as the sc conservation bank and the charleston county greenbelt program. -continued implementing and carrying out programmatic rebranding activities for the company, including the creation of a new website. -used internal design and content production efforts to create targeted and improved messages for both traditional and non-traditional consumers.
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