MORNING HEADLINES | The Forest Legacy Program on Tuesday announced approval of a $50 million grant to permanently protect more than 62,000 acres of forested land in the “Pee Dee Basin” properties in Marion, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties.
The funding came from combined efforts of the Open Space Institute, the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the S.C. Office of Resilience, the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program and Atlantic Packaging, according to a news release.
This conservation project is planned to ensure climate resilience, recreation and sustainable forest management for the land along the Santee, Black and Pee Dee rivers.
“Today marks an unprecedented victory for conservation and commerce,” State Forester Scott Phillips said in a Tuesday press release. “Coined the nation’s ‘wood basket,’ this region’s timberlands are one of the state’s most important assets. Not only do forested landscapes provide clean water, scenic beauty, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation, they also represent a renewable resource with a major economic impact.
“The funding announced for this initiative is a win on every level — for our state’s economy, for our workforce, for residents, and for wildlife,” he added.
The 62,000 acres of land will continue to be managed for timberland production on behalf of four landowners with long-term forestry and conservation goals. Forest land is lost daily in the area to sand mining and development, creating critical conservation gaps that this project hopes to close.
In addition, South Carolina’s economy relies heavily on the $23.2 billion impact of forestry — forest products such as timber are the state’s top harvested crop. The wood harvested from the Pee Dee region currently contributes more than $116 million to the timber value delivered to nearby hard and softwood mills, supporting the jobs of more than 900 workers.
“In South Carolina, we understand the importance of preserving our natural resources and take an approach that acknowledges the interconnected relationship between economic prosperity and environmental stewardship,” S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said in a press release. “I am proud to have worked with this partnership to protect some of our state’s most valuable lands, an achievement that will benefit our economy, bolster resilience against flooding, and expand recreational and tourism opportunities for our people.”
This transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. —Skyler Baldwin
In other recent headlines:
CP NEWS: Early voting continues to break S.C. records. About 125,000 South Carolinians voted on each of the five weekdays of the first week of early voting, which started Oct. 21. On Saturday, just over 90,000 people cast ballots, according to S.C. Election Commission records. Then on Monday, 128,000 people went to the polls across South Carolina’s 46 counties, totaling more than 865,000 registered South Carolina voters who cast an early ballot.
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MUSC to build new facility for Berkeley, Charleston counties. The Medical University of South Carolina will break ground on a new facility to increase access to care for surrounding communities in Berkeley and Charleston Counties.
What to know before you head to the Coastal Carolina Fair. The Coastal Carolina Fair, founded in 1957, is back Oct. 31-Nov. 10 with nearly 65 rides, nightly concerts on the Lakefront and Parkway stages, a fleet of festive food vendors and sideshow attractions with giant stuffed animal prizes.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
