2019 Land Stewardship Report
“The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food,
water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend It.”
— Sir David Attenborough
The Kiawah Conservancy protects a significant portion
of natural habitat through its many conservation
lands across Kiawah Island and beyond. Part of the
Conservancy’s role as an accredited land trust is to
organize land stewardship efforts to ensure lands are
kept in their natural state in perpetuity. To accomplish
this, the Conservancy monitors each property on an
annual basis through repeated visits. Additionally,
a portion of the Conservancy’s annual income is
dedicated to the Stewardship and Defense Fund,
which is reserved for use in situations where critical
management needs arise on our preserved land or legal
action is necessary to defend a conservation property.
In 2019, Conservancy staff visited all 51 of its
previously preserved properties, encompassing
2,273 acres. We are happy to report that all of the
Conservancy’s properties remain in habitat-rich,
natural states and all conservation easements are
in compliance. In addition to monitoring efforts,
baseline documentation was also completed for one
additional property placed under the protection of the
Conservancy in the same year. This information allows
the stewardship team to track any changes to the land
over time that may occur, whether it be positive or
negative.
As the Conservancy continues to preserve natural
habitat on the Island, its stewardship program evolves
to address threats to habitat for wildlife and the land’s
conservation values. Managing Chinese tallow trees,
the most prevalent exotic, invasive species found
on Kiawah and in nearby coastal communities, is a
component of Conservancy stewardship, requiring
ongoing control efforts to limit their populations
on conserved properties. Additionally, as more land
is protected, the occurrence of encountering litter,
dumping, and encroachment also arises. As a result,
clean-ups are undertaken and management techniques
are implemented to address any observed issues. This
is all in an effort to maintain the natural habitats these
preserved areas were acquired to protect.
Taking care of our preserved properties and
implementing a robust land stewardship program is an
important responsibility for the Kiawah Conservancy.
Visiting these properties by land and water allows us
to learn more about Kiawah’s ecology and provides
endless opportunities to view wildlife. If you are
interested in participating in the Conservancy’s land
stewardship efforts, which may involve some hiking,
marsh trekking, or kayaking, please contact our
office. Currently, the Kiawah Conservancy protects 51
properties totaling 2,273 acres on and around Kiawah
Island. The Conservancy’s preserved properties exhibit
each of the Island’s diverse habitats which support the
rich diversity of wildlife on the Island.
Along with preserving land, our robust Naturally
Kiawah Habitat Recognition program also seeks to
enhance preservation efforts by encouraging habitat for
wildlife on developed portions of the Island. Through
these endeavors, we are increasingly positioned to
ensure the ongoing health of the Island’s unique
ecosystems as our community grows and approaches
build-out.
We offer our deepest appreciation for these gifts of
land and the donors who support our mission. Natural
habitat, where it exists on the Island, is extremely
important to supporting the Island’s rich diversity and
abundance of wildlife. Even small pockets provide
benefits by providing cover or helping the movement of
a variety of resident and migratory wildlife.
If you own undeveloped land on Kiawah and are
interested in learning more about donating property
to the Kiawah Conservancy, please contact our Land
Preservation Coordinator, Lee Bundrick, at (843)
768-2029 or lee@kiawahconservancy.org. A gift of
land in perpetuity dramatically supports the Kiawah
Conservancy’s mission. To learn more about the
Conservancy and its conservation areas, visit
www.kiawahconservancy.org.
8
Photo by Robert Hill