RESEARCH
Research and monitoring of wildlife and natural resources on Kiawah Island are critical to our preservation efforts . Since its inception , the Kiawah Conservancy has been diligent in the initiation and promotion of scientific research through the measurement and monitoring of Kiawah ’ s natural resources . Through this work , we have advanced the understanding of Kiawah ’ s environment . This ranges from groundwater table levels to the range of its alligators , from the vulnerability of its marshes to the health of its bobcats , from the evaluation of its native vegetation to the variety of insects living in the dunes , from the hundreds of birds who call Kiawah home and those who only visit as they migrate to the loggerhead turtles hatching by the thousands on the beach !
Numerous research projects have been funded by the Conservancy with additional sponsorship from the Town of Kiawah Island , colleges and universities , governmental agencies , and foundations . The Conservancy alone has expended over $ 1,000,000 in research projects over its 25-year tenure . In the past few years , the Conservancy has garnered $ 370,000 in grant funds to better understand our local ecosystem and develop strategies to restore and enhance habitat . Additionally , the Conservancy ’ s enhanced utilization of the latest geospatial techniques help to assess ecological health throughout the entirety of the Kiawah River Watershed . These studies provide information about the current status of natural habitats within the watershed , as well as inform on potential strategies to restore and enhance wildlife habitat .
We have compiled a database of peer-reviewed research on our website with access to 118 articles detailing research on Kiawah Island . This research database can be accessed by visiting www . kiawahconservancy . org / research-database .
Ecological Health of Kiawah Island 2022 10