As the Lowcountry Open Land Trust begins our 25^th year of land conservation, we are pleased to announce that in 2009 we protected an additional 4,654 acres of land bringing our total protected acreage to 81,118 acres on 247 properties. The Land Trust is guided by our mission to protect and foster voluntary conservation of the irreplaceable Lowcountry forests, farmland, open spaces, wildlife habitat and wetlands, thus helping to conserve forever our community’s unique sense of place and quality of life.

In 2009 the Land Trust had the opportunity to assist five easement donors in applying for and receiving partial incentive pay for the donation of their conservation easements through the established Charleston County Greenbelt Bank Program; these donations covered a total 526 acres.  The remainder of the acreage, 4,128 acres, was placed under permanent protection through fully donated conservation easements. 

“There’s an unusually strong conservation ethic in South Carolina,” said Margaret P. Blackmer, President of the Board of Trustees. “We’re gratified to work with landowners who recognize how important it is to preserve the unique rural nature of the area. Their efforts benefit all South Carolinians by helping to protect wildlife habitat, preserve water quality, and minimize the human effects on our environment for future generations.” 

Ms. Blackmer reminds everyone that “It is important for those who are passionate about land conservation, yet do not have the ability to donate a conservation easement, to know that they can play a role in saving the Lowcountry landscape by becoming members of the Land Trust.” The Lowcountry Open Land Trust is a non-profit, member-supported organization and it is our responsibility to insure that our 81,118 acres are protected into perpetuity, thereby helping to preserve our Lowcountry way of life for all current and future generations of South Carolinians.

As we enter into 2010, the Lowcountry Open Land Trust reiterates the concern of other conservationists across the country that the enhanced tax incentive for the donations of conservation easements has expired, with little to no timeline on when Congress may decide to re-extend these incentives or to make them permanent.  Conservation organizations continue to educate Congress about conservation easements and the importance of a permanent tax incentive.  These incentives are a major part of what has propelled the Land Trust to more than double our acreage under protection from 38,693 in 2005 to the current protection of 81,118 acres in just five years. 

2009 Conservation Easements by County:

Allendale County                                        3 conservation easements - 454 acres

Charleston County                                     5 conservation easements - 526 acres

Colleton County                                         3 conservation easements – 1,810 acres

                                                                  1 amendment adding 44 acres

Dorchester County                                     1 conservation easement – 300 acres

Hampton County                                        5 conservation easements – 967 acres

Jasper County                                            1 conservation easement – 154 acres

Orangeburg County                                   3 conservation easements – 399 acres

                                                                                             2009 Total  4,654 acres

                                                                                           Grand Total   81,118 acres

About the Lowcountry Open Land Trust:

The Lowcountry Open Land Trust is a locally-founded, locally-run 501-C-3 nonprofit organization. The Land Trust was founded by Charleston citizens in 1985 and uses voluntary and incentive-based means to protect the irreplaceable Lowcountry landscape. We believe that the private, voluntary protection of significant forests and farmlands, wildlife habitats, waterways and open space helps preserve the unique sense of place and quality of life that distinguishes the South Carolina Lowcountry.  We are governed by an active Board of Trustees and have a staff of 7 people. The Land Trust is entirely donor supported. 

For more information, visit www.lolt.org.