The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina

Saving South Carolina's Coast

The Nature Conservancy launched its South Carolina Marine Program in 2005 to help preserve the remarkable marine diversity in the nearshore environment. Currently the Conservancy's efforts are focused on restoring the health of our magnificent oyster reefs and the link between land and water conservation.

Spotlight

Southeast Marine Spatial Planning Workshop: This fall The Nature Conservancy, along with a variety of regional partners, hosted the South Atlantic Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning. The workshop brought together a diverse group of decision-makers and stakeholders from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to discuss MSP principles and opportunities. Information on the workshop and TNC efforts related to MSP can be found here.

Volunteer

Volunteers in Action

April 11, 2009 - Volunteers bagged over 200 bags of dried oyster shells.

April 14, 2009 Volunteers moved the 200 bags from Garris Landing to Tibwin Creek.

April 25, 2009 Volunteers created a new reef providing new habitat for 130 marine species that use an oyster reef for protection or feeding grounds.

July 13-17, 2009 - Volunteers worked on creating sand castles at Jeremy Island.

Links, Publications and Maps

Marine Poster 2008

Carolinian Ecoregion Plan 2005

Carolinian Ecoregion Map

Global Marine Team

Marine Conservation

Shellfish Restoration Network

Shellfish Reefs at Risk

Recent Press:
TNC Newsletter
Sea-level rise threatens S.C. Post & Courier 2/16/09

Why do we care?

Oyster Catchers South Carolina’s fortunes have always been linked to its waters. The state’s rivers, coastal and ocean waters provide means of transportation, recreation, commerce and nourishment. In addition to these human resources, the waters and their associated habitats are home to immense biodiversity and productivity. These linkages make preserving the balance between natural resources and economic success essential to the state’s future. Click here for more SC Marine Facts.

Where's the risk?

Population growth and development, loss in oyster populations, dam-controlled rivers, coastal erosion and climate change.

Oyster Conservation and Restoration
Oysters provide the “coral reefs” of temperate estuarine systems. In tidal habitats, they create living reefs that support not just themselves but more than 130 other species. Reefs also play an important role in minimizing erosion, maintaining water quality, and protecting upland areas during storms.

South Carolina has seen a loss in our oyster populations over the past 100 years and this corresponds with a worldwide decline of 85%. Despite this significant global loss, oyster reefs have received much less attention than their tropical coral counterparts. Although South Carolina has some of the best remaining oyster populations in the world, there is still a need to restore and conserve the oysters along our coast.

In South Carolina, The Nature Conservancy is in the first stages of a long-term oyster conservation and restoration program. The goal is to increase functional oyster habitats within the Cape Romain ecosystem. Supported in part by the Alcoa Foundation, the project brings together state and federal agencies, fishermen, and local volunteers. Part of the plan promotes recycling oyster shells, which solves two problems at once: cast-off shells are the best material for reef building.

Learn more about the Oyster Shell Recycling Program.

What are we doing?

Initiating oyster restoration to increase populations and create habitat
Helping to develop dam release agreements that protect downstream habitats
Linking coastal watershed land protection with estuarine water quality
Incorporating sea level rise into conservation efforts
Engaging in coastal policy issues

tibwin creek

Images (top to bottom, left to right): Jeremy Island © TNC Staff; Oyster Catchers © TNC Staff; Development © Alan Eckert Photography; Tibwin Creek Volunteers © Kenny & Sue McKeithan.