South Carolina’s rapid growth is creating new challenges for protecting the state’s natural resources, but the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is expanding conservation, planning and education efforts.
That was the message delivered recently to the Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo by Anna Huckabee Smith, Certified Wildlife Biologist and Director of Conservation Grants & Strategic Outreach for SCDNR.
Smith explained SCDNR’s responsibilities extend well beyond hunting and fishing. The agency works to protect land and water, conserve wildlife and habitat, research environmental issues and help communities plan for growth.
Balancing growth and conservation
South Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Smith said the goal is to ensure development occurs in locations that make both environmental and economic sense.
She highlighted Governor Henry McMaster’s 10 Million Acre Initiative, which seeks to conserve 10 million acres across South Carolina by around 2050. About three million acres have already been conserved.
Conservation easements, partnerships with private landowners and cooperation among government and conservation organizations will be important to reaching the goal.
Challenges and successes
Smith discussed environmental challenges including sea-level rise, severe weather and invasive species such as kudzu, Chinese tallow, feral hogs and the Argentine black-and-white tegu.
She also highlighted conservation successes, including the recovery of the wood stork, which has been removed from the federal endangered species list, and the red-cockaded woodpecker, which has been reclassified from endangered to threatened.
Other efforts include restoring oyster reefs and living shorelines, reintroducing Carolina heel splitter mussels and restoring Eastern brook trout streams.
Smith noted South Carolina’s bats provide an estimated $115 million annually in free pest-control services to the state’s agricultural economy.
Planning for the future
SCDNR’s State Wildlife Action Plan identifies more than 1,700 species of concern and maps areas important to biodiversity. The information can help communities make informed decisions about future development.
Smith also discussed the need for careful planning as South Carolina considers the growth of data centers, which can affect water resources, wildlife, noise and surrounding landscapes.
SCDNR is expanding education programs through partnerships with schools and increased opportunities for internships and career exploration.
Smith concluded by emphasizing the connection between healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.
“We cannot afford to lose what makes South Carolina special,” she told the Rotarians.
