Event Programs and Photo Albums Legacy Ball Kiawah 2015 Program | Page 25

• There are no exotic invasive plant species
(tallow trees, non-clumping bamboo)
observed. These invasive plants are difficult
to control and over time can have negative
impacts on Kiawah’s ecology by outcompeting
native species. Additionally, tallow trees
can have harmful effects on unique habitats,
especially the Island’s limited freshwater
wetlands.

A common theme among all of the Kiawah
Conservancy’s research efforts is the high value placed
on the conservation and restoration of Kiawah’s
understory and the important habitat it provides. The
criteria for the Naturally Kiawah habitat program were
developed to highlight the importance of maintaining
this environment, which is often at risk during
development and will diminish as forest
canopies in developed landscapes
mature. Additionally, a lack of
natural controls (e.g. fire) that
allow for habitat regeneration on Kiawah
furthers the need for continued enhancement
and maintenance of this important resource.

Initial habitat surveys were
conducte