Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy: From land acquisition to environmental stewardship  by Thad Peterson

Seabrook Island is a barrier island about a half hour from downtown Charleston and adjacent to Kiawah Island. In 2000, the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy was organized, and its original objective was to identify, for potential acquisition, high visibility properties that preserve substantial green space and wildlife habitat. Potential “clusters” of properties were of particular interest because of their greater impact on visible green space and usable wildlife habitat. Properties were acquired through charitable donations, bargain sales, or traditional purchase procedures. 

After the Conservancy has obtained title to a donated or purchased property, the property is placed under a permanent conservation easement as green space and is then immune from any further development. All the green space properties are inspected twice a year to ensure that they remain in a natural, undeveloped state. There are currently more than 40 green space properties on Seabrook, comprising about 30 acres. The Green Space Conservancy was an important component of the island’s recognition as an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community.

As with many other communities in the Low Country, Seabrook Island is approaching build-out, and over 95% of the island has either been developed or is scheduled to be developed. With less potential to acquire property, the mission has increasingly focused on preserving the island’s environmental diversity and to maintain a sustainable island ecosystem. As the focus has turned from an internal, acquisition focused mission to a broader, holistic view of the ecosystem, it’s apparent that Seabrook Island is just one of many ecologically sensitive communities in the area, and that there are opportunities to join forces with other organizations to support a vision of sustainability and environmental diversity. Part of our new mission is to reach out and connect with other important organizations like CHS HORT so that we call all work together to protect our most precious asset, the environment. 

We look forward to the challenge!