appalachian spring rising

Spring 2014 | SOUTH CAROLINA update | 1

south carolinaSPRING 2014

contents:

updateAppalachian Spring RisingBY JESSICA GARRETT

Rivers and Indian trading paths were the thoroughfares that America’s first native-born naturalist and artist, William Bartram, traveled during his 2,400-mile journey through the Southeast from 1773 until 1777. More than 260 years later, Bartram’s account of his journey—in prose and in sketches—seems at once familiar and otherworldly. The lands and waters Bartram traversed in the Southern Blue Ridge—the Savannah River’s watershed and the Oconee Valley—are places we know. Travelers today can follow in his actual footsteps on the Bartram Trail. The naturalist’s awe as he ascends new peaks—his “imagination wholly engaged in the contemplation of this magnificent landscape, infinitely varied, and without bound”—is not unlike our own when we ascend those peaks just as he did, though likely in better footwear, snapping photos with our iPhone.

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The call of spring peepers (Hyla crucifer) is often one of the first sounds of spring in the eastern United States. They are so sensitive to changes in temperature that calls can sometimes be heard on warm days in late fall. These diminuative tree frogs spend most of their time hidden in moist leaf litter. PHOTO © CLAY BOLT

From the Director .....................................................2

Appalachian Spring Rising (continued) ..........3

Marine Conservation: A View from the Water ..........................................6

Conservation 365: Public Access Improvements to Sandy Island Preserve .......7

In Winyah Bay, Conservation Begins at Home ........................................................................9

Capitalizing at the Capitol – TNC Trustees Head to Washington, D.C. ..............10

SC Goes Global: Report from the World Meeting ....................11

Explore SC’s Special Places .............................11

Discover Ways to Give & Save by Leaving a Lasting Legacy ..................................12

What’s Happening in South Carolina? ........12

Book Shelf ................................................................12

2 | SOUTH CAROLINA update | Spring 2014

Dear Friends,

A definite theme runs through this issue of our South Carolina Update: conservation’s most powerful engine is not money or political influence, but the human heart. A love of the land, of being outdoors, wowed by wildflowers or dolphins, can change a life and impact a career choice. These early experiences may in turn lead to protecting the future of our forests, rivers and oceans.

As the title of staff member Maria Whitehead’s article says, “Conservation begins at home.” It did for me as a young boy growing up in a military family, when I was able to hike the Blue Ridge and later SCUBA dive on coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. It began at home, too, for Maria and for Peter Brown, who share their personal stories and reasons for their passion about The Nature Conservancy in this issue.

These inspiring stories reiterate a point that has been impressed upon me many times over almost three decades with The Nature Conservancy: so many of our conservation challenges today are solvable only through effective marshaling of our human resources. Whether we are working in the Southern Blue Ridge, as our cover story details, or

protecting land at the Black River, we need to bring our collective passion, a broad knowledge base and the ability to build productive partnerships. The Nature Conservancy excels at this, and I personally believe this is because our team is not only extremely knowledgeable about their program areas, but also because they care so deeply about South Carolina’s special places.

The beauty of conservation work is that it comes full circle. A positive personal experience in nature, perhaps as a child on a family hike, picnic or camping trip, inspires someone to learn more and enjoy the outdoors more, which in turn may fuel a desire to protect the land, which then leaves more beautiful and well-cared for land for others to discover, explore and enjoy. The Nature Conservancy’s work is an exciting, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding part of this cycle. Through your support of the South Carolina Chapter, you become part of it, too.

Sincerely,

Mark L. Robertson Executive Director, South Carolina Chapter

from the director

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers

Ms. Natalma McKnew – Greenville, ChairMr. William Lowrie – Brays Island, Vice-ChairMr. George Greene, IV – Mt. Pleasant, TreasurerMs. Jessica Loring – Yemassee, Secretary

Trustees

Ms. Ann Baruch – Spring IslandDr. Travis Folk – Green PondMs. Kay Grinnell – Hilton Head IslandMs. Patti McAbee – Greenville

Dr. David McIntyre – Dewees IslandMr. Arnold M. Nemirow – Mt. PleasantDr. Richard Porcher – Mt. PleasantDr. Doug Rayner – SpartanburgDr. Jim Rothnie – Brays IslandDr. Harry Shealy, Jr. – AikenMrs. Langhorne T. Webster – Greenville

Trustee Emeritus

Mr. Joseph H. Williams – Charleston

Honorary Trustee

Mr. Thomas Wyche – Greenville

PHOTO © AMEY WARDER

SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER2231 Devine Street, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29205 (803) 254-9049 • fax: (803) [email protected]

Mount Pleasant: (843) 937-8807Greenville: (864) 233-4988

nature.org/southcarolina


Appalachian Spring RisingCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1...

And yet, Bartram’s pages also hold other revelations. He records his observations with an almost microscopic level of detail and a bit of the ethereal. Bartram noted 14 species of trees on the hill leading out of “the ancient Occonne (sic) town” along with a new species. “This beautiful flowering tree grows twenty and thirty feet high, with a crooked leaning trunk, the branches spread greatly, and wreath about, some almost touching the ground; however there appears a singular pleasing wildness and freedom in its manner of growth, the slender subdivisions of the branches terminate with heavy compound panicles of rose or pink coloured flowers, amidst a wreath of beautiful pinnated leaves.” It’s here—in Bartram’s detailed observations—that we realize that we often travel through our uniquely beautiful landscapes without really seeing them.

Region of SuperlativesThis is the year to change that. An Appalachian spring is rising. It’s time to venture off the highway and step into this Southern Blue Ridge (SBR) wonderland that Bartram explored more than two and a half centuries ago, and really see what makes this region “a region of superlatives,” in the words of the Conservancy’s Southern Blue Ridge Project Director, Kristen Austin. “We’re talking about 9.4 million acres of ancient mountains stretching across Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The Southern Blue Ridge reigns as one of the most naturally diverse areas in North America, and harbors the last remaining large, intact temperate forests in the Eastern United States.”

Each spring, the Southern Blue Ridge’s forests begin teeming with wildflowers. Where the Piedmont meets the Southern Blue Ridge at The Nature Conservancy’s 560-acre Nine Times Preserve, the Conservancy has recently installed 1.7 miles of trails that connect to other existing logging roads, allowing visitors

to experience more of the preserve and discover its bounty of rare flora. From early spring through the fall, 134 native species of wildflowers will bloom, species such as Vasey’s trillium (Trillium vaseyi) and faded trillium (Trillium discolor), found in a limited range within these rich woods. Just twenty minutes west of Nine Times Preserve, Devil’s Fork State Park is the gateway to Jocassee Gorges, a 43,000-acre wildlife management area, where the Oconee bell (Shortia galacifolia) blooms. This native wildflower also has a limited range similar to faded trillium, and is found naturally only in moist wooded areas near streams in the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Due to its natural diversity and critical natural resources, the Southern Blue Ridge is one of the four top conservation priorities for the Conservancy’s South Carolina Chapter. Although comprising less than two percent of the state’s landmass, the Southern Blue Ridge harbors 40 percent of its rare plants, including the Oconee bell and the federally endangered mountain sweet pitcher plant (Sarracenia rubra

ssp. Jonesii). According to Austin, “The intact temperate forests act as the lungs of the region, filtering the air we breathe, and the streams flowing through these forests provide drinking water to much of the Upstate. As population expands, the Southern Blue Ridge will play an increasing role in meeting basic human needs and helping communities near and far to thrive.”

Large-Scale, Multi-Decade Conservation PlanThe Nature Conservancy’s vision is that the Southern Blue Ridge will sustain healthy, connected forests and rivers vital for people, animals and plants; will continue to provide clean water and clean air; and will inspire future generations through its beauty. This vision may seem straightforward, but it actually represents a renewed way of thinking about conservation. Instead of focusing efforts on single species and on a single tract of land, the focus is on the “network of connected

North American Forest land snail (Mesodon normalis) eating Catesby’s trillium (Trillium catesbaei) PHOTO © CLAY BOLT


forests and rivers.” In the Southern Blue Ridge, that network extends across five states: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, which is why the Conservancy chapters in each state have come together to create a shared conservation plan for the region. Collaboration on this scale, of course, corresponds with equally bold goals—in this case, landscape-scale goals for across the SBR’s 9.4 million acres.

The Nature Conservancy is uniquely qualified to take on this challenge. As Austin explains, “The Conservancy has the capacity and the talent to work across the entire scale of the SBR, and can bring essential science-based tools to advance conservation in the region.” When it comes to outcomes and timelines, she’s clear: “It’s a multi-decade commitment, building on the Conservancy’s 40 years of successful partnerships with state and federal agencies in the region.”

And now, thanks to an anonymous $400,000 gift supporting the South Carolina Chapter’s work in the Southern Blue Ridge, The Nature Conservancy can get right to work.

One of the primary means by which the Conservancy can tackle such large-scale restoration is through its close partnership with The U.S. Forest Service, which owns three million-plus acres, or one-third of forestlands in the Southern Blue Ridge. “Today, the Conservancy is working in new ways with the Forest Service throughout the Blue Ridge as a close and trusted partner to support successful protection and management of publicly owned lands,” explains Austin. At

the same time, the Conservancy and its partners will seek to acquire an additional 5,000 acres of South Carolina mountain habitat in the coming five years. These acquisitions will be keystone properties or connectors that further expand the network of contiguous forests and rivers already protected in the SBR.

Forests Within ForestsWhile members and visitors often think of the Southern Blue Ridge as pristine, it has experienced degradation and faces tremendous pressure from proximity to some of the region’s fastest growing urban areas. With development pressure comes the danger of over-exploiting water and forests; at the same time, invasive species threaten to fray the fabric of this grand area of natural diversity and beauty.

The forests within the Southern Blue Ridge are complex and layered. In Nine Times Preserve, there are seven different types of forests, thus land management plans and restoration efforts must be tailored to the specific type of forest and level of degradation.

Those plans do, however, include some management methods also used in longleaf pine forests, specifically the use of controlled fire.

“The Southern Blue Ridge has been shaped by natural processes, including fire,” says Austin. Research indicates that fire has played a role in the Southern Blue Ridge for centuries; some species native to the region, such as Peter’s mountain mallow, need the fire to thrive. On a practical scale, controlled burns protect region’s forests from devastation during natural wildfires by reducing fuel loads on the ground. Forests here must also be treated for invasive pests and pathogens. This region knows all too well the devastation that can be caused by invasive species: American chestnuts once accounted for nearly one-fourth of all hardwood trees in the Southern Blue Ridge. Today, the once majestic American chestnut has disappeared—obliterated by a fungus accidently introduced by man.

The Middle Saluda was South Carolina’s first

designated wild and scenic river. It is important to a

variety of plants and wildlife. Its entire length

has been protected thanks to the conservation efforts

of Greenville attorney, photographer and

conservationist, Thomas Wyche. PHOTO © CLAY BOLT

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum); Swamp pink (Helonias bullata) being pollinated by a small, native North American bee; Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia); Pink Lady slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule); Dragonfly on Christmas fern PHOTOS © CLAY BOLT


Restoring American Forests: Block by BlockWhen viewed from space, the possibilities for Restoring America’s Forests become abundantly clear.

America’s forests are “huge blocks of land,” that cut across political boundaries, says Restoring

America’s Forests director Chris Topik. The United States Forest Service (USFS) manages 40 percent

of those blocks—40 percent of American forests—“and influences the management of millions of

additional acres through their grant programs and through their work with state foresters,” explains

Topik. This is why the backbone of the Restoring America’s Forests program is the Conservancy’s

longstanding trusted partnership with the USFS.

The program’s brain is the applied science constantly practiced and refined by Conservancy scientists

on the ground as they test new treatments for invasive pests and new methods of forest restoration. Its

arms and legs, so to speak, are the companies and organizations—from the timber industry to ski areas,

counties and states, governors’ associations, conservation groups, state foresters and tribal groups—

who work on, steward and benefit from our great forests. What binds this program together is the

“cooperative, even congenial” spirit that allows the Conservancy to bring diverse organizations together

to discuss forest policy, explains Topik. “We stress practical conservation,” he adds, “so that all parties—

from rare wildflowers to industries and travelers—have a voice.”

Already, the program has seen successes. In North Carolina, the Conservancy worked in partnership

with the USFS on a new 15-year forest management plan. Such a plan will have immediate and long-term benefits for Southern Blue Ridge forests. Next up? Topik’s efforts in Washington D.C. could

alter the way in which forests (and fighting forests fires) receive funding, restoring $400 million for

forest conservation and restoration on those “large blocks of land” across the nation.

Effective PartnershipsThe Conservancy’s strength in science, entrepreneurial spirit and its proven ability to forge effective partnerships across all sectors is the specialized combination it is using to address these on the ground challenges. The Conservancy’s team is constantly researching and testing new methods to combat pests and pathogens and restore forests. The Conservancy and its partners have developed the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network, which brings scientists and land managers together to understand the role fire plays in our forests and develop solutions for how to apply fire appropriately.

The South Carolina Chapter also is involved with a forest demonstration site for the Conservancy’s national Restoring America’s Forests program. The goal of this program is to work with federal land managers, who oversee 40 percent of the country’s forested lands, to accelerate the pace of forest restoration. This program promotes a positive cycle of innovation in forest restoration by bringing expertise to areas—like that managed by Austin in South Carolina—to study and test new methods of forest restoration. Austin then reports results back to Restoring America’s Forests, which under the leadership of Chris Topik, can work with the Conservancy’s national and federal partners to leverage her work and implement and enable restoration of forests across the country at a massive scale.

What does a better-managed Southern Blue Ridge mean for South Carolina? “The better we care for the Southern Blue Ridge, the more South Carolinians and the third of U.S. residents who live within a day’s drive of the region, can enjoy the fruits of the Southern Blue Ridge,” says Austin. “From the clean water we drink to the fresh air we breathe, to that moment when we come upon a cluster of Oconee bells and realize we’ve just seen a wildflower that you can’t see anywhere else in the world.” The Southern Blue Ridge is indeed a land of wonder and resilience, and there is no better time than the spring to explore it. Rise Appalachian spring, rise!

Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia), a plant once called the ‘Holy-Grail of Plants,’ growing in the Southern Appalachians PHOTO © CLAY BOLT


Living in a seaside community, we hear a lot about conservation. People generally agree that we should protect unspoiled natural places if we want future generations to know the same quality of life we enjoy. In regions where culture and economy are closely tied to the coastal landscape, it has never been more important to have a reasonable voice for marine conservation. I have personally seen the increased pressure on crucial marine habitats, and I am more certain than ever that the work The Nature Conservancy is doing

will play a key role in ensuring healthy oceans and estuaries for our future.

People often ask me: “What have you seen change since you started in the guiding business?” They want to know if the fishing is still as good as it was when I started doing this twenty years ago. Yes, I tell them, the inshore fishing here in South Carolina is still very good. Our fishery for red drum and speckled trout has been a success story for the most part. But there is more fishing pressure now

than ever before, and there are real issues that will affect our coastal waters in the years to come. Detrimental effects to wetlands by over development (subdivisions, docks, marinas), increased pressure on fish stocks, shellfish and other limited resources, combined with high boat traffic can create habitat concerns that are often not quantified until years later. Further offshore, a host of other issues result from factors including over-harvesting, pollution and climate change. Consequences impacting marine environments can be subtle, and addressing them requires a better understanding of the effects of increased pressure on fragile marine ecosystems.

Some resources are well managed at state levels, but in dealing with offshore habitats and migratory species, effective conservation work will require cooperation of state and federal

BY PETER BROWN

As a professional fishing guide, the Lowcountry’s waterways are my office, and my livelihood depends on their health and productivity. I chose this line of work because I have always loved being on the water and enjoy sharing the experience with others. From my “office” I get a first-hand view of the incredible beauty as well as the challenges facing our marine environment, which is why I am a supporter and partner with The Nature Conservancy.

Marine Conservation: A VIEW FROM THE WATER

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CONSERVATION 365

Public Access Improvements to Sandy Island PreserveBY STEPHANIE HUNT

For more than 15 years, The Nature Conservancy

of South Carolina has been managing one of the

state’s most unique natural assets, the 9,000-acre

Sandy Island Preserve, nestled between the

Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee Rivers in

Georgetown County. In January 2011, the

Conservancy became both owner and manager of

the Preserve when SC DOT transferred their

ownership interest. As the largest protected

freshwater island on the eastern seaboard—nearly

15 times as large as New York’s Central Park—

Sandy Island is a haven for wildlife and regional

history and culture. Its pristine wooded bluffs,

ancient cypress stands, longleaf pine forests,

freshwater wetlands and blackwater and alluvial

rivers provide rich wildlife habitat for resident

eagles, osprey, bear, deer, turkey and a small

community of humans, who travel to-and-from

their island home by boat or ferry.

While researchers and outdoor enthusiasts have

long been drawn to Sandy Island’s enchantingly

undisturbed habitats, the island has not been easy

for the public to navigate, with outdated brochures

and scarce visitor infrastructure. But The Nature

Conservancy of South Carolina has recently been

awarded a grant from the Frances P. Bunnelle

Foundation to change that.

The Conservancy is dedicated to promoting the

human and nature connection by providing and

protecting places where people can experience the

wonders of the natural world. Sandy Island

Preserve offers unparalleled opportunities for

nature-based tourism in Georgetown County, and

the Conservancy is excited to enhance recreational

access while also maintaining the ecological

integrity of the island’s natural communities.

The Conservancy will use the $16,800 grant to

fund enhancements to interpretive materials,

public use infrastructure and safety planning and

signage on the Preserve. By this summer the

Conservancy plans to produce a Sandy Island

Preserve trail map and add three new

informational kiosks at major public entry points,

create a new marked 1.5-mile hiking loop and

replace road signage for public safety.

“Sandy Island is a hidden gem in Winyah Bay, and

we look forward to making it easier and safer for

people to explore the island and appreciate its

remarkable habitats and wildlife,” says Colette

DeGarady, senior ecologist for the South Carolina

Chapter. “These public access enhancements are

an example of The Nature Conservancy’s

commitment to connecting communities with their

natural areas.”

agencies in partnership with organizations like The Nature Conservancy and comprehensive planning based on factual research. It is crucial that conservation groups and government agencies have the input of the commercial and sport fishing community as well as shipping and other maritime interests through voluntary public input and more reliable data collection. The more accurate the information we have on our fisheries the better we can monitor intertidal and offshore species. Using available technology we can streamline the systems for gathering information on fisheries, making them more efficient with less cost, meaning more effective management for our natural resources.

Preservation of marine habitats is essential not only for our quality of life, but also for a healthy economy. Ecotourism, travel, recreational fishing and numerous sectors of outdoor industry represent billions of dollars for the economy every year. If the public is educated on the value of a healthy marine environment, then we can make a difference and impact the outcomes of difficult environmental issues.

Coastal regions have seen decades of unprecedented growth. As populations increase, we will only see more pressure on the marine environment. We can learn from the mistakes of the past and choose, as The Nature Conservancy has, to make marine conservation a priority in the future. My hope is that I can help pass on the respect for the oceans that I was taught, and that in turn, future generations will appreciate these places as much as I do.

Peter Brown is a professional fishing guide and writer in

Charleston, SC. He started Saltwater Charters in 1994,

after the successful rebound of the red drum, which

prior to the mid-80s was an overfished species. An

advocate for conservation, he offers a unique

perspective on the issues facing our coast.

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Colette DeGarady, senior conservation ecologist for The Nature Conservancy, monitors Sandy Island Preserve, shown here inspecting trumpet pitcher plants (Sarracenia flava). PHOTO © TOM JOHNSON.


BY MARIA WHITEHEAD, Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin Project Director

My most intimate childhood experience with the natural world was raising Solomon, an orphaned great horned owl, in a child’s playpen set up in our kitchen. My memories of this experience are steeped in wonder of the huge bird who would carefully retract his talons before perching on our heads. This was certainly the beginning of my preoccupation with birds, the “seeds” that Rachel Carson talked about when she wrote, “for the child it is not half so important to know as to feel. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions...are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.”

IN WINYAH BAY, CONSERVATION BEGINS AT HOMEMy two brothers and I were impressionable elementary school students when we watched our owl learn to feed himself on live mice from the pet store. As an adult, I’ve recognized that our childhood spent outdoors spurred an interest in science and instilled a deep appreciation for that place our family has called home for two hundred years. Perhaps in seeking to marry our education and training in the natural sciences with an ingrained sense of place, my siblings and I each found our way to conservation—my younger brother as an environmental attorney and now Deputy Director of Upstate Forever, myself as an ornithologist and my older brother as a physician and board member for the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

About a decade into my career as an avian researcher, I realized that the most urgent need for avian conservation was the protection and restoration of the habitats that birds need to survive. Now my work with the Conservancy gives me the privilege and responsibility of working to protect bird habitat, which also happens to be the land my family has held sacred for generations.

This winter, two landmark conservation easements, Resource Management Service, LLC’s (RMS) Black River Tract and Mansfield Plantation, added more than 1,400 acres to the protected Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin landscape, and exemplified how conservation easements can protect both natural habitats and our cultural heritage. Conservation easements are an essential tool in preserving the aesthetic, cultural, recreational and ecological value of South Carolina’s rural landscapes while allowing for the continuation of traditional uses like farming, hunting and timber harvest.

These projects, funded by grants from the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) Program, are part of a private-landowner and land trust vision to preserve the scenic, rural character of The Black River and Mingo Creek neighborhood, one of the five river systems that deliver freshwater in


the Winyah Bay. This vision began with neighbors who understood Wendell Berry’s definition of community: “the condition of knowing that a place is shared, and that the people that share the place define and limit the possibilities.”

RMS Black River Tract and Mansfield PlantationIn early December, The Nature Conservancy purchased a conservation easement on 600 acres of forested wetlands spanning four miles along the scenic Black River, land owned by RMS. The easement tract, located directly across the river from the Conservancy’s Black River Preserve, has been a target for more than a decade. The property adjoins 9,000+ additional acres of privately owned lands within the Black River and Mingo Creek neighborhood that are under conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy and partner groups, including Ducks Unlimited, Pee Dee Land Trust and USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.

“By placing a conservation easement on special properties, we allow future generations to enjoy the land and water,” says Dr. Steve Jones, a neighboring conservation easement donor with Pee Dee Land Trust. “Hopefully, easements like these will continue to enhance the conservation ethic among our children.”

The tide-driven forested wetlands, such as those on the easement tract, have a higher-than-expected diversity of species, and the Black River is one of the most incredible canoe and kayak destinations in the state, if not in the country. Bird enthusiasts seek this destination as a place to see Prothonotary Warblers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and the state-endangered Swallow-tailed Kite. However, one of the most striking and important species on the protected property may just be the bald cypress tree. A stand of ancient cypress trees, forgotten or passed over for timber, is brimming with both aesthetic and scientific value. As they grow, the trees fold some of the area’s history into their rings, telling the story of climate, water

and hydrology, and how the land has changed over the years.

Further down the Black River near its confluence with the Pee Dee River where the push and pull of the tide grows stronger, there were twenty-five rice plantations in the Plantersville district built by enslaved West Africans. Mansfield Plantation, recognized as “one of the most architecturally intact rice plantations in South Carolina,” was one of the only remaining historic Georgetown County rice plantations that was both undeveloped and unprotected.

Mansfield Plantation’s owners, John Rutledge Parker Jr. and his wife, Sallie Middleton Parker, who were able to re-acquire the Parker family’s plantation in 2004, decided 2013 was the year to solidify the legacy of “Mighty Mansfield.” The Nature Conservancy purchased a bargain-sale conservation easement on the plantation with funds from NAWCA. The highly leveraged project was made possible because the landowners donated more than 85 percent of the value of the easement, a charitable gift through the Conservancy.

To visit Mighty Mansfield is to step back in time. The Parker’s commitment to preserving and restoring both the natural and cultural history of their family land is evident in the native flowers under the open longleaf pine forest as well as in the clapboard chapel onsite, immaculately restored as a tribute to

early African-American slave culture and spirituality. In addition to serving as a family retreat and bed-and-breakfast, Mansfield Plantation is home to the endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker, wintering waterfowl, foraging wood storks and migrating warblers.

The Conservation of ConservationBoth Mansfield Plantation and the RMS Black River Tract are imbedded in a network of protected lands along the five rivers that feed the Winyah Bay, including many places open for public use. TNC’s Black River Preserve, Sandy Island Preserve, Brookgreen Gardens, Samworth Wildlife Management Area and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge offer trails, rivers, creeks and forests to explore and experience this legacy landscape.

Today, as I watch my girls pick spring flowers, catch turtles and slog through mud at our family’s cabin on Mingo Creek, I often reflect on the conservation of conservation. During a time of uncertainty and change, visiting and playing in our permanently protected places in South Carolina can be a source of hope and rejuvenation for my generation and a venue for nurturing future advocates and stewards in the next. Plan your family’s adventure to the protected Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin by vising on our website (nature.org/southcarolina) under “Places We Protect.”

IN WINYAH BAY, CONSERVATION BEGINS AT HOME


Capitalizing at the Capitol – TNC Trustees Head to Washington, D.C.

It’s not easy to walk into congressional offices to talk about money these days, especially during a government shutdown. Our trustees clearly acknowledged the difficult fiscal circumstances each legislator was facing, yet they also clearly pointed out that disproportionate cuts of 90 or 100 percent for conservation programs would destroy the long bipartisan tradition of protecting land and water for people and nature, in good times and bad. As a mere one percent of the total federal budget, conservation spending is a small investment that yields a big return.

Our trustees also delivered a message of appreciation for those representatives who have made a definitive stand in support of conservation funding. We offered gratitude to Representative Sanford for his consideration of support for LWCF, and to Representative Clyburn for his long-term support for the Francis Marion National Forest. In addition, we presented an award to Senator Graham for his continued leadership in seeking the permanent reauthorization of the LWCF.

So how do you measure success in the end?

Does the time and energy spent traveling and meeting with these legislators actually change things? The short answer is, yes it does, and I offer this example as proof. A few weeks following our meeting with Representative Sanford’s legislative aide, I received a personal letter from the Congressman conveying his decision to sign on as a co-sponsor H.R. 2807, a bill extending enhanced tax incentives for conservation easement donations. During our visit we requested support for this same bill, and I am confident his decision was influenced by the fact that our trustees, some of whom are his constituents, personally requested he take action.

Our trustees made significant strides in building connections with our congressional delegation, and as a chapter, we are grateful that they are willing to make the time and effort to wield influence on Capitol Hill.

The Palmetto State’s enviable wildlife, beautiful coastlines, majestic mountains and rivers draw large numbers of sportsmen, tourists and adventure-seekers. Outdoor recreation directly bolsters local economies and supports 201,000 S.C. jobs, $4.7 billion in wages and salaries, and $1 billion in state and local tax revenues. It only makes economic and environmental sense that we ask Congress to support the programs and dollars that help conserve and protect our natural treasures.

BY APRIL DONNELLY, Director of Government Relations

In the midst of a federal government shutdown last October, four members of the South Carolina Chapter board of trustees trekked to Washington D.C. to advocate for conservation with our Congressional delegation, face-to-face. Patti McAbee, Jessica Loring, David McIntyre and our Board Chairperson Tami McK-

new made a personal request to our elected officials to invest in our state’s natural resources through programs and agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), among others. From early morning until dusk (it was indeed a full day!), our group covered one side of Capitol Hill to the other, meeting with Senator Lind-sey Graham, Senator Tim Scott, Representative Joe Wilson, Representative Tom Rice and numerous congressional aides. We rounded out our schedule with staff meetings in Representative Sanford, Duncan, Gowdy and Clyburn’s offices. While we were not always given a nod of full and complete support, our time with each staff member was fruitful and the discussions robust.


SC GOES GLOBAL: Report from the World Meeting BY TAMI MCKNEW, Chair, S.C. Chapter Board of Trustees

Last October I traveled to Washington, DC with three fellow Nature Conservancy trustees to attend the Conservancy’s annual World Meeting. I get so much out of these meetings when I am able to attend, but the primary take away for me this year was how deep and effective The Nature Conservancy’s global strategy has become.

I’ve been involved with the Conservancy for many years—this is my second rotation as board chair—and I can remember when the Conservancy first began tackling landscape-sized projects and when its global strategy was just emerging. To see, as I did at the recent meeting, that The Nature Conservancy’s international scope has evolved into a fully-integrated global strategy is extremely gratifying. I found it especially interesting that in many of the meeting sessions, a U.S. speaker was paired with a speaker from a non-U.S. program, and each shared their particular approach to a similar issue. For example, a South American staff member and a U.S. staff member shared how they addressed similar water resource issues in two entirely different ways—real boots-on-the-ground type work. That brought home to me how interconnected our work is, and how strategies can be crossbred and cross-fertilized through

our global interactions, making the Conservancy as a whole more effective worldwide.

As it was for my S.C. trustee colleagues who traveled to Africa in 2013, the World meeting allowed me to gain an appreciation of the truly global scope of The Nature Conservancy’s work. At these global gatherings we make personal connections and become ever more inspired by the potential conservation impact. I love that our S.C. board remains enthusiastic despite the enormity of projects such as those they visited in Africa. This local-to-global passion is so important, because a board that wants to do something is a board that will do something. I am proud that the S.C. Chapter has such a board.

Explore SC’s Special PlacesSpring is the perfect time to get out and enjoy some of SC’s gems that The Nature Conservancy protects. Maybe look for the wildflowers mentioned in our cover story with a visit to Jones Gap, or go see for yourself why Sandy Island is a hidden coastal jewel.

JONES GAP Jones Gap State Park is home to the rare wood frog, native brook trout, migratory birds and multiple reptiles, as well as the Middle Saluda River, the state’s first designated Scenic River.

WHERE: 4246 protected acres in Greenville County (303 Jones Gap Rd, Marietta, SC 29661) Off of US Highway 276. Note: parking is limited.

WHAT TO DO: Take a dip in the Middle Saluda River; hike to Rainbow and Falls Creek Falls, bring a picnic;

bird watch; fish for Trout

SANDY ISLAND PRESERVEThe public is invited to enjoy Sandy Island and explore the pine forests during daylight hours. Please note that camping, fires, bicycling or feeding wildlife is not permitted.

WHERE: There is no bridge to Sandy Island. However, four public boat landings exist near the island on the Waccamaw and Pee Dee rivers.

Sandy Island Landing - One mile south of Brookgreen Gardens on Highway 17. Turn west at Sandy Island Landing sign on Hwy 17.

Wacca Wache Landing - From Charleston take U.S. Highway 17 through Georgetown and Pawleys Island towards Garden City and Myrtle Beach. Turn left onto Wachesaw Road (sign for landing at intersection) and go 2.4 miles to the landing.

Samworth WMA - Take Hwy 701 to Plantersville. Turn east at Plantersville General Store onto SSR 52 for approximately 6 miles. Turn east at Samworth WMA sign on SSR 52.

Yauhannah Landing - Take Hwy 701 to Plantersville. Turn east at Plantersville General Store onto SSR 52 for approximately 6 miles. Turn east at Samworth WMA sign on SSR 52.

WHAT TO DO: Walk along the water and through the longleaf pine forests; bird watch; picnic. Be sure to respect the privacy of Sandy Island residents and

private property.

Mixed SourcesProduct group from well-managed forests, controlled sources, and recycled wood or fiber. www.fsc.org Cert no. (to be inserted) | © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.

Financial information about The Nature

Conservancy may be obtained by contacting us at 4245

North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203;

(703) 841-5300.

©2014 The Nature Conservancy South Carolina Chapter.

South Carolina Chapter2231 Devine Street, Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29205 nature.org/southcarolina

PRINTED WITH SOY-BASED INKS ASCDA140401600

DISCOVER WAYS TO GIVE & SAVE BY LEAVING A LASTING LEGACYExplore the many ways you can help meet your financial goals and maximize your philanthropic giving through sound and timely gift planning with The Nature Conservancy.

Visit nature.org/gift-planning for more information or contact [email protected] or call our toll free number (877) 812-3698. Request your personalized proposal by contacting our experts. They can help you find the right gift that meets your financial and charitable goals.

BEQUESTS: HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY:

Legal Designation: For gifts that will take effect after your lifetime, The Nature Conservancy should be named as: The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia, and with principal business address of 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1606.

You can specify that the gift be used in South Carolina or another state or country by adding this additional phrase: to be used to further purposes of The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina…(or in Wyoming…or in Costa Rica, etc).

Book Shelf: For Further Reading PleasureOur staff members recommend the following books,

which offer further reading and insight to our work

and to stories in this South Carolina Update:

Travels of William Bartram by William Bartram, Edited by Mark Van Doren (Dover Publications, 1955)

The Forest Unseen – A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell (Penguin Books, 2013)

The Lumber Boom of Coastal South Carolina: Nineteenth Century Shipbuilding and the Devastation of Lowcountry Virgin Forests by Robert McAllister (The History Press, 2013)

A Woman Rice Planter by Elizabeth Allston Pringle (USC Press, reprint 1992)

Flight Behavior: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper, 2012)

Renew your membership today!Help to ensure a healthy future and feel

confident your support is making a difference

for nature. To renew or view your benefits;

visit nature.org/membership.

What’s Happening in South Carolina?Sign up for our Great Places monthly e-newsletter at nature.org. As a member you’ll receive special invitations, see great nature photographs, and read the latest conservation news in South Carolina.

appalachian spring rising

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