Looking Forward
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Photo by Tina Schell
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s an organization I believe the Kiawah Conservancy is as strong as
it has ever been. We have a dedicated board, an experienced and
motivated staff, and a community that is increasingly aware and
supportive of the need to conserve the beautiful and special island
that we all share.
Habitat conservation and preservation are at the heart of our mission and will
be vital to the health of our Island. We will continue our efforts to identify critical
habitat and work to conserve what we can and minimize the impact of future
development in these sensitive areas.
We will also be doing everything we can to improve the habitat value of developed
properties. The innovative Naturally Kiawah Habitat Recognition Program is an
excellent example of how we can raise the awareness of property owners on how
they can help improve the Island’s habitat. We are currently at work on the Pathways
to Kiawah Trail Program, a mobile application that will allow residents and visitors
to enjoy self-guided tours of Kiawah’s bike and nature trails.
Research has always played a key role in setting the priorities of the Conservancy
and informing our Island-wide partners and homeowners about the most effective
ways to retain and restore the habitat and wildlife of this extraordinary Island.
Kiawah is a nature laboratory and we will continue our efforts to identify research
opportunities and potential partners.
Beginning this year, we will be working on a multi-year research project with
Louis J. Guillette Jr., Ph.D. to study Kiawah’s alligator population and the impact of
contaminants on the health of the population. Dr. Guillette is a professor of Marine
Biomedicine at MUSC and the Hollings Laboratory.
Our communications efforts have been the key to our ability to educate
both property owners and visitors about the habitat of Kiawah and the wildlife
it supports. Through our award-winning Naturally Kiawah magazines, our
Conservation Matters educational programs and the Naturally Kiawah
Demonstration Garden, more and more people are hearing the message of
the Conservancy. We recently launched a renovated website that significantly