Reflections on 2021
As I look back on 2021 , I realize that my reflections are influenced by 2020 . At the end of 2020 we were all glad to leave that year in the rearview mirror and be rid of the COVID pandemic . Alas , that was not to be the case . The year 2021 meant we were still dealing with the pandemic as it affected our businesses , work , and family — not to mention our social lives .
During this time , the Conservancy staff and Board did not give up . The first thing we did was to finalize and implement the new strategic plan in order to guide the Conservancy ’ s activities for the future . The strategic plan established new committees to deal with the demands of an ever-changing environment and the Conservancy ’ s growth on Kiawah and the surrounding environs .
Next came the accreditation re-certification process with the Land Trust Alliance ( LTA ), a national land conservation organization that represents more than 950 member land trusts and their 6.4 million supporters nationwide . Obtaining and maintaining LTA accreditation provides us with the opportunity to work with other LTA organizations on a peer level , and allows us to apply for both federal and local research grants .
As the Board members chaired the new committees , the Conservancy staff developed and implemented a new and improved website , planned and carried out educational programs for residents and guests on-Island and in our local schools , researched and obtained grants for the study of Kiawah Island ’ s natural resources , as well as worked with surrounding entities to gain a better understanding of how the entire area is connected and works together . The Conservancy is also continuing to work with the community to help residents understand the importance of using native plants for landscaping and ways to make native plants more readily available to the community .
As always , land preservation is a top priority for the Conservancy , and we successfully preserved an additional nine properties ( 8.83 acres ) this past year .
All of the above activities , along with the success of fundraising , positions the Conservancy in good standing to meet the New Year and to deal with the challenges it may bring .
Thank You !
Roland Hoffman , Chair Kiawah Conservancy Board of Trustees
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