2021 Land Stewardship
The Kiawah Conservancy protects a significant portion of natural habitat through its many conservation lands across Kiawah Island and its environs . 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 at least once on an annual basis . 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 2021 , Conservancy staff visited all 52 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 nine additional properties placed under the protection of the Conservancy in the same year . This information allows the stewardship team to track any changes that may occur to the land over time , whether it be positive or negative .
As the Conservancy continues to preserve natural habitat on and around Kiawah , its stewardship program evolves to address threats to habitat for wildlife species 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 , cleanups 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 Land Preservation Coordinator , Collie Farah at 843-768-2029 or collie @ kiawahconservancy . org .
Conservation Easement Owned Fee Simple
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