CVSC Honors Governor Henry McMaster with Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award
COLUMBIA, S.C.—Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) honored Governor Henry McMaster with a Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award during the organization’s annual Green Tie Awards Luncheon, presented by energyRe, on Wednesday, September 16.
The Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose vision, leadership, and commitment have had a lasting impact on the protection of South Carolina’s air, land, and water. Governor McMaster received the award in recognition of a public service career that has elevated conservation as a cornerstone of South Carolina’s future.
Since becoming South Carolina’s 117th Governor in 2017, and through his elections to full terms in 2018 and 2022, Governor McMaster has championed the principle that a strong economy, quality education, and healthy natural resources are fundamental to the state’s long-term success. During his administration, South Carolina has made historic investments in land conservation, resilience, and water resource protection.
Over the past three years, Governor McMaster’s leadership has helped secure more than $318 million for conservation efforts while protecting—or advancing the protection of—more than 229,000 acres of environmentally and historically significant land. His conservation legacy includes helping secure the largest conservation easement in South Carolina history, protecting working farms and forests, conserving iconic landscapes across the state, and advancing an ambitious vision to permanently conserve 10 million acres of South Carolina land.
Governor McMaster has also positioned South Carolina as a national leader in resilience planning and water resource management. His administration established the South Carolina Office of Resilience, launched the WaterSC Water Resources Working Group to develop the state’s first comprehensive long-term water plan, and directed significant investments toward flood mitigation and disaster recovery. Throughout his tenure, he has also remained a steadfast advocate for protecting South Carolina’s coast by opposing offshore drilling and supporting the preservation of the state’s beaches, waterways, and coastal communities.
“It is a great honor to receive this Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award from Conservation Voters of South Carolina, and I am grateful to everyone who has worked alongside us to protect the natural resources that make our state so special,” said Governor McMaster. “We have made historic investments in conservation because we know the decisions we make today will determine what South Carolina looks like 100 years from now. I am proud of what we have accomplished, and we must continue that work for future generations.”
“Governor McMaster has demonstrated that conservation is not a partisan issue—it’s a South Carolina value,” said Meagan Diedolf, President of CVSC. “His leadership has resulted in historic investments in land conservation, strengthened our state’s resilience, and helped protect the places that define South Carolina’s identity. We are honored to recognize his lasting commitment to safeguarding our air, land, and water for future generations.”
The Green Tie Awards Luncheon is CVSC’s premier annual celebration recognizing leaders whose work has advanced conservation across South Carolina. The event brings together elected officials, business leaders, conservation partners, community advocates, and supporters from across the state to celebrate bipartisan leadership and the people making a lasting difference for South Carolina’s future.
The 2026 Green Tie Awards are made possible through the support of our presenting sponsor, energyRe, and our valued event partners. For more information about the event, visit cvsc.org/greentie.
About CVSC
CVSC fights for our air, land, and water through bipartisan and pragmatic political action, making conservation and environmental issues a top priority among South Carolina’s elected leaders, political candidates, and voters. Learn more at cvsc.org.