Conservation Leadership Spotlight: Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area
The protection of more than 10,000 acres and creation of the Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area is an enormous conservation win for Jasper and Hampton Counties. This impressive achievement is a direct result of nonprofit organizations working together with state agencies and legislators to further South Carolina’s bold conservation goals.
CVSC commends the Open Space Institute (OSI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) on this impressive—and strategic—victory.
Funding land protection on such a large scale requires unwavering support from state legislators. This particular purchase would not have been possible without funding from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and the SCDNR’s Heritage Trust Program, both of which were supported by legislators representing Jasper County.
CVSC is especially grateful to Senator Tom Davis (R, District 46) for backing these state funding avenues and his commitment to land conservation in South Carolina. His support demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a high quality of life for current and future South Carolinians, with ample opportunities to access green spaces, relax and recharge in nature, and enjoy the benefits of pristine land and water. Continued support from legislators like Senator Davis will be instrumental as South Carolina strives to achieve Governor McMaster’s goal to conserve 10 million acres across the state.
The Coosawhatchie HP/WMA effort began in 2021 with OSI’s conservation of the Slater and Slater Duck Ponds properties, together comprising 5,000 acres, and continued with the joint OSI-TNC purchase of the 7,300-acre Buckfield property in 2022. In 2023, SCDNR acquired more than 10,000 acres from OSI and TNC to create the Coosawhatchie HP/WMA, with an additional 2,000 acres pending.
Now permanently protected from development of any kind, the Coosawhatchie HP/WMA offers numerous, overlapping benefits: supporting preservation of nearly 70 priority plant and animal species identified in the South Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan, improving water quality downstream in the Beaufort and Hilton Head areas, and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities such as hunting, hiking, and birdwatching.
South Carolina faces ever-increasing pressures from population sprawl, unchecked development, and habitat degradation. Saving lands that protect irreplaceable ecosystems is a critical pathway to offsetting these pressures. Ensuring that high priority green and blue spaces remain natural in perpetuity secures a future South Carolina that remains an unparalleled place to live, work, and play.
CVSC extends its sincerest gratitude to the organizations and legislators who facilitated this conservation victory. These essential partnerships are the key to protecting the natural resources that make South Carolina so exceptional and securing the state’s reputation as a leader in conservation.
Learn more about OSI and this exciting project here: https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/news/coosawhatchie-hpwma-slater