Event Programs and Photo Albums Legacy Ball Kiawah 2015 Program | Page 24

NA
T

ALLY KIA

AH
W

UR

naturally
Habitat Program

Improving Wildlife Habitat, One Yard at a Time

As the landscape of Kiawah changes, the Kiawah Conservancy
continues to seek ways to preserve and enhance the Island’s unique
balance of nature and development. In addition to the Kiawah
Conservancy’s efforts to preserve vital lands across the Island,
restoration of important wildlife habitat is also an increasingly
important endeavor.
The Naturally Kiawah habitat program was developed to
encourage property owners to partner with the Kiawah Conservancy in
its mission by restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat in residential
landscapes. As development continues on the Island, enhancement of
these areas is essential to the success of many of our wildlife species.
For an owner’s landscape to meet the Naturally Kiawah designation, it
must provide wildlife habitat by exhibiting the following features:
• Dense side buffers that include a variety of understory and
ground cover plantings adjacent to neighboring properties.
Buffer strips provide a means for privacy from adjacent lots
or roads, that also ensure that wildlife has ample cover to
nest or rest. These strips of habitat also serve as important
travel corridors for wildlife.
• The majority of the main yard is comprised of understory
shrubs and ground cover plants. Open areas, such as turf
or laid pine straw are minimized. The understory not only
provides cover, but also offers food sources which are very
important to many resident and migratory birds. Lightly
maintained shrubs that exhibit a more natural look are more
beneficial to wildlife and using native species helps maintain
the ecological integrity of the Island.