Reflections of the Chair
T
he single purpose of the Kiawah
Photo by Tina Schell
Conservancy is the preservation
and maintenance of Kiawah Island’s
unique balance of nature and
development. The importance of our mission was
reinforced for me this past August with the birth
of our first grandson. It was a reminder of the
importance of maintaining the health of today’s
environment for the benefit of those who will
inherit our world tomorrow.
An environment that
supports life at all levels is a
highly complex system. While
it may be daunting to think
about it on a global basis, and
while it is truly a global issue,
much can be accomplished
locally. Individuals are critical
building blocks in the effort to
preserve, or better yet, enhance
the quality of our environment.
Kiawah stands as an example
of how individual citizens can
make a significant difference.
Our individual motives may
differ. One person may focus
on preserving natural beauty
and wildlife. Another may be
concerned about the health of
the environment or even about
maintaining property values.
At the end of the day, no matter
what our individual reasons,
we can accomplish great improvement by working
together.
It is of primary importance that the community
as a whole establish some standards for success as
well as a plan to achieve the desired results. From
its beginnings as a residential resort development,
Kiawah has had a head start as a Sustainable
Community. In 1974 the developer commissioned
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an extensive environmental inventory of Kiawah.
That report, published in 1975, assured that nature
and the environment figured prominently in the
original master plan for the Island.
Since that time, as the Island’s institutions
have developed and evolved, nature and the
environment have continued to play a leading
role in the Island’s appeal to residents and
visitors. The Town’s recently updated operating
plan demonstrates again its commitment to the
Island’s na tural resources. The Town, as well as
the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and the Kiawah
Partners, have partnered with the Conservancy
on important wildlife and habitat research, key
to our understanding of what needs to be done
to accomplish our goal of maintaining Kiawah’s
unique balance of nature and development.
Progress is a function of acting together as
individuals and as a community.
Over the past two years the Conservancy
conducted an extensive review of the 1975
environmental study. This serves as an important
benchmark as we measure our progress toward
our vision and it informs our decisions about
potential research and property acquisition. I do
not believe the day will come when we will declare
victory in our efforts to preserve and conserve our
environment—there are just too many variables
and exogenous forces at work. I believe that if
we stay the course we will deliver a legacy to
our children and grandchildren and all future
generations of Kiawah residents and visitors that
will be worthy of our best efforts and then some.
On behalf of the Conservancy I want to thank
all who have supported our vision for
this incredible Island. NK
Kevin Cox, Chairman
Kiawah Conservancy Board of Trustees
Naturally Kiawah