Sustain SC relaunches Land and Water Conservation Fund

Sustain SC has relaunched its Land and Water Action Platform, a conservation funding initiative that connects corporate investment with tangible conservation outcomes across South Carolina.

The re-launch was unveiled at Sustain SC’s Conservation Summit today, April 25, at Brosnan Forest, with a special announcement that applications for new projects are now open, according to a news release.

“South Carolina has made significant strides in safeguarding our natural resources, protecting over 96,000 acres last year alone, and the re-launch of Sustain SC’s Land and Water Action Platform will accelerate these efforts,” said Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. “By bringing leaders together, we will ensure that our conservation keeps pace with our development, preserving the beauty of our state for future generations.”

Sustain SC aims to raise $500,000 for LAWAP this year and has already reached the halfway mark thanks to early investments from corporate partners including Atlantic Packaging, Primo Brands, Norfolk Southern, Google and AFL, according to the release.

Raleigh West, Executive Director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank highlighted the platform’s alignment with the state’s conservation efforts.

“The LAWAP will allow conservation groups of all sizes and locations to access financial support from a broad array of corporate contributors located in South Carolina,” West said. “In turn, that will accelerate the pace of land protection projects across the state.”

Originally launched in 2022, LAWAP’s first success story was the protection of a portion of Waties Island, one of South Carolina’s last untouched barrier islands, the release stated. This milestone was achieved through a partnership with the Open Space Institute and funding from Google and other donors, resulting in the permanent preservation of 260 acres of the beautiful coastal habitat.

Dale Threatt-Taylor, Board Chair of Sustain SC and Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina, emphasized the importance of the fund.

“The Land and Water Action Platform is an example of how businesses, conservation and community can come together to create meaningful impact,” he said. “As a Board, we are proud to support this effort and excited about what this fund can do for South Carolina’s natural legacy.”

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