South Carolina protects 62,000 acres of forest in largest conservation easement
The $70 million Pee Dee Basin Initiative uses a $50 million federal grant to prevent land fragmentation across three river basins.
South Carolina has permanently protected more than 62,000 acres of forestland through the Pee Dee Basin Initiative, according to the Times of India. Announced on October 29, 2025, the project represents the largest conservation easement in the history of the state.
The initiative covers land across Marion, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties, spanning the Pee Dee, Santee and Black rivers. The $70 million effort includes a $50 million grant from the US Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program, which was the largest single grant of its kind at the time of its announcement in October 2024.
The project involves a partnership between the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Open Space Institute (OSI), the US Forest Service, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and Resource Management Service (RMS). While RMS will continue to manage the timberland for sustainable production, permanent restrictions will prevent mining, property development and other non-timber uses.
The protected area includes 30,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests and is expected to provide habitats for at least 115 species of plants and animals of conservation concern. These forests help absorb rainwater to protect nearby communities from flooding.
South Carolina provided approximately $17.8 million from its Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund as matching support. Other contributors include the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Acres for America programme.
More than 7,500 acres will eventually be accessible to the public, including an 880-acre expansion of the Wee Tee State Forest. The South Carolina Forestry Commission will monitor the easements to ensure compliance with the agreement.