Lowcountry Land Trust Inc

SC COASTAL RIVERS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

COASTAL PROGRAM

LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST COASTAL PLAIN PRIORITY HABITAT PROTECTION PROJECT

LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST WORKS IN 17 COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL PLAIN OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA LINE TO THE GEORGIA LINE. CURRENTLY, THE LAND TRUST PERMANENTLY PROTECTS OVER 162,000 ACRES ON MORE THAN 544 PROPERTIES IN 14 COUNTIES. OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM TARGETS THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL TRACTS CONTAINING VITAL HABITAT IN SIX COASTAL PLAIN FOCUS AREAS: SOLO (SOUTH LOWCOUNTRY), ACE BASIN (INCLUDING FOUR HOLE SWAMP), CAWS BASIN, SANTEE RIVER BASIN, SANTEE COOPER LAKES, AND WINYAH BAY.DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS OF THE MOST THREATENED LANDSCAPES SUPPORTS THE LAND TRUST IN FOCUSING OUR RESOURCES TO PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY CONSERVATION RESULTS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A BOOTS ON THE GROUND RELATIONSHIP-BASED APPROACH TO ACCELERATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF IN PERPETUITY LAND CONSERVATION.THE LAND TRUSTS SUSTAINED LAND PROTECTION EFFORTS RESULT IN EXPANDING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND PROVIDING STEPPING STONES BETWEEN PROTECTED AREAS. THESE LINKAGES ARE CRITICAL FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS MAINTENANCE OF WATER QUALITY, REDUCTION OF EROSION, AND STABILITY OF HYDROLOGIC CYCLES. IN ADDITION, LARGE LANDSCAPE PROTECTION CAN MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE NATURAL FLOW OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS ACROSS A LANDSCAPE AND HELP PRESERVE SPECIES RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY.DURING THE COURSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST EXPECTS TO COMPLETE 10 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT PROTECT PRIORITY SPECIES ON PRIVATE LANDS. FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE COSTS OF LAND TRANSACTIONS WILL ALLOW US TO COMPLETE MORE PROJECTS AND ACCELERATE AND ENHANCE OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR REGIONAL CONSERVATION. IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDING TO BE PROVIDED UNDER THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST SEEKS THE FOLLOWING PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS FROM USFWS: USFWS STAFF TO ACCOMPANY LAND TRUST STAFF DURING LANDOWNER MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT RARE, THREATENED, OR ENDANGERED SPECIES (RTE), HABITAT ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION, AND COST SHARE PROGRAMS USFWS TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR THE LAND TRUST DURING LANDOWNER WORKSHOPS BY PROVIDING GUEST SPEAKERS AND OR MATERIALS FOR RELEVANT TOPICS, (E.G., RTE SPECIES, HABITAT ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION, AND COST SHARE PROGRAMS) USFWS TO PROVIDE CONSERVATION VALUE ASSESSMENTS, BASELINE DOCUMENTATION INPUT, AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND USFWS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN MAPPING CONSERVATION VALUES FOR PROTECTED AND YET-TO-BE-PROTECTED LANDS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

F18AC00176