Dear Friends,
We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Giving Tuesday movement last week. With your help, we surpassed our campaign goal. We are blown away that you helped us raise over $26,000 in one day!
It all started with the extremely generous $10,000 matching gift from Dottie’s Pharmacy. It ended with you, your friends, and neighbors, making a gift to prove that conservation matters in our community. Thanks to you, Lowcountry Land Trust will protect new land and water in 2021. Your investments ensure that our marshes, forests, beaches, and waterways will thrive. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and support toward our mission to protect the places we love.
If you missed out on the Giving Tuesday movement, you can still donate today and make an impact on our Lowcountry community. Together, we will continue to keep the Lowcountry resilient for generations to come.
With the greatest appreciation,
David Ray
Acting CEO and Chief Conservation Officer
As we move into the busy holiday season, we will adjust the Log portion of the update to share staff highlights from the past week.
Sam Seawell, Stewardship Associate, along with members of LLT, joined Professor Frances Ford of College of Charleston and Dr. Jon Marcoux of Clemson University for the final presentation of their students’ work at Hyde Park. The students performed a historical investigation into the property, using ground-penetrating radar to locate potential graves in order to properly delineate and care for the cemetery on the property where enslaved people were buried. The report of their findings will help inform our protection goals on the property.
Nathan Moyer, Director of Science and Stewardship, attended a presentation on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund 2021 Request for Proposals. The presentation informed participants of the program goals and provided guidance for putting together successful proposals.
Ashton Lamb, North Coast Project Manager, joined land trust leaders from across the United States on a Land Trust Alliance Annual Policy Discussion call. Participants were updated on the latest policy priorities by the Land Trust Alliance that support land trusts and conservation across the country. Top priorities discussed include: putting an end to abusive conservation easement tax shelters; pursuing the creation of a Forest Conservation Program in the Farm Bill; and the “Renew Conservation Corps Act” S4538. We look forward to keeping you informed as we participate in advocacy for these policy matters.
OTHER NEWS
As part of the Ridgeville Walmart Import Distribution Center mitigation project, the South Carolina Ports Authority preserved a 325-acre parcel of land within the Timothy Creek and Four Holes Swamp Watershed, both of which have been identified as priority areas for conservation. This important conservation project was developed through a partnership between Lowcountry Land Trust, SC Ports Authority, and Open Space Institute. Read about the Walmart project here.
We’re hiring! Lowcountry Land Trust seeks an experienced, self-driven philanthropy professional with a passion for nonprofit excellence. Read more about the search for our next Chief Advancement Officer.
[The President’s Log will feature a series of rotating guest writers, including LLT staff and board, as well as friends of Lowcountry Land Trust]
This edition of the Lowcountry Land Trust President’s Log is presented with support from Bailey Mill Plantation. Thank you!
