Get to Know Government Relations Director Duncan Crotwell
We’re thrilled to introduce CVSC’s newest team member, Duncan Crotwell. Duncan joined CVSC this month as Government Relations Director to lead strategy and collaboration on our conservation priorities in the Statehouse lobby. Keep reading to get to know Duncan and how he’ll be helping us protect South Carolina’s air, land, and water!
Q: Hi Duncan! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to environmental work in South Carolina?
A: I was born and raised as an outdoorsman here in the Palmetto State, spending all the time that I could hunting, fishing, and recreating in South Carolina’s natural areas. My love for the outdoors followed me during my time as a student at Clemson University, where I also took up hiking and kayaking around Lakes Hartwell and Jocassee. The experiences I have had enjoying the natural resources of this state instilled in me a passion to conserve and steward those resources for future generations, which is how I came to find myself leading the legislative efforts for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) and now CVSC. My goal working in environmental and conservation policy is to ensure that 100 years from now, kids in South Carolina grow up with the same access and opportunities that I had to enjoy the pristine natural beauty of our state.
Q: I can definitely see why you ended up in this line of work. For those who may not be familiar with government affairs, how do you see your day-to-day work impacting conservation policy?
A: Patience and diligence are the tricks of the trade in policy work, particularly on the subject of conservation. The reality is you will very rarely accomplish everything you set out to do during any given legislative session, as politics tends to be the art of the possible, not the perfect. However, if you are able to move the needle on your priorities each day even slightly, you will start to see results. Be willing to listen to and understand the other side of the issue. Know that negotiation and compromise are all but guaranteed. Issues that we advocate on will take time to get done, but thoughtful, rigorous debate is necessary for the passage of strong policy in the world of conservation.
Q: We’re lucky to have someone with that mentality representing CVSC in the lobby! As the newest member of CVSC’s policy and government relations team, is there anything about your new role that you’re especially looking forward to?
A: I’m very excited about working on environmental issues that were not always under the purview of SCDNR. Understanding that all aspects of an ecosystem are connected, you realize that in order to have healthy wildlife and fisheries, you also need clean air and clean water to support those species and their food chains. Being able to take a proactive approach to protect these ecosystems from the ground up is something that I am very much looking forward to.
Q: Is there a specific campaign that you’re most excited to work on in 2027?
A: All of our campaigns at CVSC are great initiatives, but I think that I am most excited about continuing to work on the SC Protected Lands Project. Having served in Governor McMaster’s administration when the 10 million-acre initiative was started, I have seen firsthand the conservation community transcend party lines to support the protection and stewardship of South Carolina’s natural areas. Protecting these lands for future generations ensures we conserve South Carolina’s unique beauty and biodiversity, mitigate impacts from severe weather events, and continue to provide South Carolinians and visitors with plentiful access to enjoy our natural resources.