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As the landscape of Kiawah changes, the Kiawah Conservancy continues to seek ways to preserve and enhance the Island’s unique
balance of nature and development. In addition to the Kiawah Conservancy’s efforts to preserve vital lands across the Island, restoration of important
wildlife habitat also is an increasingly important endeavor.
The Naturally Kiawah Habitat Program was developed to encourage property owners to partner with the Kiawah Conservancy in its mission by
restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat in residential landscapes. As development continues on the Island, enhancement of these areas is essential to the
success of many of our wildlife species. For an owner’s landscape to meet the Naturally Kiawah designation, it must provide wildlife habitat by exhibiting the
following features:
• Dense side buffers that include a variety of understory and ground cover plantings adjacent to neighboring properties. Buffer strips provide a
means for privacy from adjacent lots or roads, and they also ensure that wildlife has ample cover to nest or rest. These strips of habitat also serve as
important travel corridors.
• The majority of the main yard is comprised of understory shrubs and ground cover plants. Open areas, such as turf or laid pine straw are
minimized. The understory not only provides cover, but also offers food sources which are very important to many resident and migratory birds.
Lightly maintained shrubs that exhibit a more natural look are more beneficial to wildlife and using native species helps maintain the ecological
integrity of the Island.
• There are no exotic invasive plant species (tallow trees, non-clumping bamboo) observed. These invasive plants are difficult to control and over
time can have negative impacts on Kiawah’s ecology by outcompeting native species. Additionally, tallow trees can have harmful effects on unique
habitats, especially the Island’s limited freshwater wetlands.
A common theme among all of the Kiawah Conservancy’s research eff ܝ