Lowcountry Land Trust Inc.

Lowcountry Land Trust\u2019s goal is to improve the health of the Lowcountry lands we love by connecting and protecting properties across the South Carolina coastal plain\u2019s forests, marshes, and rivers. Doing so safeguards the quality of our drinking water, supports fish and wildlife populations, promotes clean air, and preserves the Lowcountry\u2019s unique way of life.

Lowcountry Land Trust (LLT) uses a time-tested method to conserve new lands, steward the lands under our protection, and build consensus for conservation:\n\nConservation\nTo improve the health of our landscapes, LLT staff spend countless hours walking in the field and pouring over maps to identify natural features\u2014forests, swamps, rivers, and marshes\u2014that may or may not already be partially protected. We then work to develop relationships with landowners who own adjacent properties in hopes of establishing protection for contiguous natural areas. Our principal tool for protection is voluntary conservation easements donated by private landowners.\n\nStewardship\nStewarding lands already under our protection is just as vital as securing protection for new land. Why? Through our 500\u002B landowners, we have the ability to assist in the management of our protected land portfolio and in doing so improve the health and vitality of a variety of natural systems. Moreover, through our constant physical presence on these landscapes, we gain insight into new conservation opportunities and continue to assemble a mosaic of connected and protected properties. \n\nThe goals of our stewardship staff begin with their near constant presence in assigned geographic regions and include: (1) meeting regularly with current landowners; (2) conducting annual visits at each portfolio property to document changes; (3) attending regional task forces to participate in collaborative conservation efforts; and (4) participating in landowner and community-wide education programs and volunteer events. \n\nBuilding Consensus for Conservation\nLLT will only achieve its ultimate goal of improving the health of the entire Lowcountry landscape if the community believes in the value of conservation, takes steps to aid in conservation efforts, and connects conservation success with healthy, vibrant communities. To expand our impact in the community and build consensus for conservation, LLT has embarked on four initiatives:\n1. SOUL of the Lowcountry, which targets young professionals who might not own land but who care about conservation, the outdoors, and quality of life, through a series of events; \n2. Angel Oak Effect, a grass-roots community conservation effort that has already resulted in the purchase of the 35 acres next to the iconic oak on Johns Island, SC. In the coming year, LLT will open this property as a public passive park, designed with community input; \n3. Expanded Volunteer Projects and Community Events, including beach sweeps and clean ups on public lands across the Lowcountry, along with educational programs to help us tell our story and build our base of supporters; and\n4. The Lowcountry Place Project, a comprehensive effort to engage residents, community groups, and businesses from across the Lowcountry to develop a vision for the Lowcountry\u2019s next 25-50 years along with distinct action plans that small groups can follow to conserve the places that matter most to them.

For 34 years Lowcountry Land Trust has been building, enhancing, and expanding its conservation program throughout South Carolina\u2019s coastal plain. Today LLT is the most successful regional land trust in SC and one of the leading local land trusts in the nation. Two hallmarks of our success are our ability to work with a variety of landowners\u2014both large and small\u2014and our ability to collaborate with an array of public and private partners, leading to the collective conservation of over 1M acres in the coastal plain.

Since its founding in 1985, Lowcountry Land Trust has placed protections on over 140,000 acres across South Carolina\u2019s coastal plain. Our goals for the coming year include conserving 6,000 to 10,000 acres of land, stewarding the 140,000\u002B acres under our permanent protection, and building a conservation-minded community among the 1.7 M who reside in the 17-county coastal plain where we work.