Congaree Land Trust protects 100,000 acres in South Carolina

The Congaree Land Trust has reached a milestone in its 33-year history of conserving natural and scenic lands in the Midlands.

With the recent protection of Alston Farms in Sumter County, the organization has arranged the permanent protection of more than 100,000 acres of land across central South Carolina, according to a news release.

“This achievement is a result of the extraordinary dedication and hard work of our staff, board, and volunteers — those with us now and those whose foundational efforts paved the way,” Trip Chavis, immediate past president of the trust’s board, said in the release. “Their instrumental contributions have been vital to CLT’s success.”

Since its beginnings as a volunteer organization in 1992, CLT has grown into a nationally accredited land trust supported by members. This growth underscores a deep commitment to preserving the unique landscapes that define central South Carolina, the organization says. Throughout its history, CLT has partnered with landowners and public land agencies to conserve more than 45,000 acres of wetlands, 34,000 acres of forests, and 61,000 acres of prime farmland.

“South Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the country, and it is estimated that nearly 200 acres of agricultural and forested land are lost every day,” CLT Executive Director Stuart White said in the release. “The urgency of land conservation has never been greater.”

CLT recently celebrated this accomplishment at its springtime Game & Garden Soirée, an event honoring the dedicated landowners, key partners and supporters.

“With more than two dozen active conservation projects underway, CLT is accelerating efforts to safeguard the working farms, forests, wetlands and open spaces that define our region and sustain its future,” White said in the release. “The protection of these 100,000 acres is a testament to what we can achieve together, but it also serves as a powerful call to action for the critical work ahead.”

This work is fundamental to ensuring a vibrant future for the state, protecting areas that fuel South Carolina’s natural resource-based economy, provide crucial climate resiliency, sustain clean air and water, and ultimately enhance livability for all residents, the release stated. This landmark achievement strengthens the foundation for conserving the region’s irreplaceable natural heritage and the way of life it supports for generations to come.