Press Releases


Contact Info


March 17, 2010: Swallow-Tailed Kite Initiative
South Carolina Working Group for Swallow-tailed Kites is calling on area bird watchers to report sightings of the rare raptor.


Kristine Hartvigsen
Dr. Maria Whitehead Project Director, Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin 843-937-8807, ext. 37 mwhitehead@tnc.org

January 25, 2010: TNC Hires Second Fire Crew
TNC-SC recently hired a fire management specialist and four firefighters to double its prescribed fire capacity.


Kristine Hartvigsen
khart@tnc.org 803-254-9049, ext. 34

January 11, 2010: $400,000 Grant to Support Prescribed Fire
The U.S. Forest Service in December 2009 awarded The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina a two-year, $400,000 grant for prescribed fire work.


Kristine Hartvigsen
Kristine Hartvigsen 803-254-9049, ext. 34 khart@tnc.org

December 10, 2009: SC-TNC Staffers Receive Partnership Award
The Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service in Atlanta honored members of Charleston County's Greenbelt Program and staff of SC-TNC with a Partnership Award during a Charleston County Council meeting on Dec. 8.


Michelle Burnett
Michelle Burnett U.S. Forest Service Public Affairs 803-561-4091 michelleburnett@fs.fed.us

November 24, 2009: Scribe's Descendants Protect Family Lands
Descendents of the state’s first poet laureate, Dr. Archibald Hamilton Rutledge, this week granted a conservation easement on 1,215 acres of historic family land near Charleston.


Kristine HartVigsen
Kristine Hartvigsen 803-254-9049 khart@tnc.org

November 17, 2009: Nature Conservancy Celebrates 40 Years in SC
This year, The Nature Conservancy is celebrating its 40th year as a leading conservation presence in South Carolina.


Kristine Hartvigsen
803-254-9049, ext. 12, khart@tnc.org

November 17, 2009: Governors Form South Atlantic Alliance
The governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida recently signed a pact to collaboratively manage and protect coastal resources.


Mary Conley
843-937-8807, ext. 20, mconley@tnc.org

October 05, 2009: $1 Million Grant for Scenic Black River
The Nature Conservancy received word on September 10th that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) voted to support a $1 million funding request to protect habitat along the Black River in Georgetown County.


Maria Whitehead
843) 709-8663 mwhitehead@tnc.org

July 28, 2009: Shellfish Reefs at Risk
“Shellfish Reefs at Risk” Analysis Shows Habitat Loss has Widespread Impacts for Ecosystems and Economies, Identifies Solutions for Bringing Oyster Reefs Back from the Brink.


Joy Brown
843-937-8807, joy_brown@tnc.org

April 15, 2009: Half-Moon Outfitters raises $4,500
On March 25th, 26th and 27th in Columbia, SC and Greenville, SC, Half-Moon Outfitters hosted the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour stops. All three shows had record numbers of attendees ¬ totaling over 1500 participants. All proceeds from these events go to The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina. This year, $4500 was raised ¬ the highest amount netted from the annual event to date.


Melinda Ottaviano
mottaviano@tnc.org (803) 254-9049 X16

April 07, 2009: EARTHGRAINS® BREAD
EarthGrains bread today announced it will make a $100,000 contribution to a leading international conservation group, The Nature Conservancy, to support the protection of the world’s lands and waters.


Melinda Ottaviano
mottaviano@tnc.org (803) 254-9049 X16

April 07, 2009: Choose or Reuse™
Earth Fare Draws the Line – Paper and Plastic are On the Way Out!


Melinda Ottaviano
mottaviano@tnc.org (803) 254-9049 X16

March 18, 2009: $1M Grant for Protection along the Waccamaw River
The Migratory Bird Commission awarded a $1,000,000 grant to The Nature Conservancy for acquisition of 580 acres along the Waccamaw River. The grant, submitted in August 2008 through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant program, supports the protection of important wetlands for the benefit of migratory waterfowl and other priority species.


Maria Whitehead
Winyah Bay & Pee Dee River Basin Project Director (843) 709-8663 mwhitehead@tnc.org

December 22, 2008: Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge makes significant gains in acreage through a strategic land acquisition partnership with The Nature Conservancy. Waccamaw NWR will grow from 18,620 acres to over 22,500 acres by as early as January 2009. The Haulover tract, a 1,292-acre parcel which is the largest acquisition this year, will close this December.


Maria Whitehead
Winyah Bay & Pee Dee River Basin Project Director (843) 709-8663 mwhitehead@tnc.org

November 25, 2008: FMNF Protection
The Nature Conservancy has purchased four tracts totaling 1,116 acres from International Paper Company for $6,445,000. The tracts, located in Charleston and Berkeley Counties, protect critical upland and wetland habitat as well as buffering existing protected lands of the Francis Marion National Forest, Santee Coastal Reserve and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.


Michael B. Prevost
843/887-4380 mprevost@tnc.org

November 24, 2008: Conservation Partners Protect 641 Acres
The Nature Conservancy, Pee Dee Land Trust and conservation partners protected more than 640 acres of environmentally and historically significant lands in the Plantersville community in Georgetown County, SC, this week. The Nature Conservancy secured funds from a wide array of sources in order to purchase these conservation easements. Pee Dee Land Trust agreed to hold and monitor the conservation easements in perpetuity.


Maria Whitehead
(843) 709-8663 mwhitehead@tnc.org

November 12, 2008: Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award
The South Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy is pleased to announce that Joe Williams of Spring Island will receive the organization’s highest honor at a November 12th celebration. The Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award is reserved for those individuals who have made outstanding, long-term contributions to the mission of The Nature Conservancy.


SC Chapter
(803) 254-9049 southcarolina@tnc.org

September 18, 2008: Nine Times Preserve
The South Carolina chapter of The Nature Conservancy and Upstate Forever today announced the establishment of a new nature preserve at one of the most biologically significant properties in the Southeast, the Nine Times Preserve.


SC Chapter
(803) 254-9049 southcarolina@tnc.org

August 28, 2008: Norfolk Southern Makes Largest Conservation Gift in SC History
12,488 acres placed under conservation easement in Dorchester County, headwaters of the ACE Basin


Willie Haynie
Will Haynie Executive Director Lowcountry Open Land Trust 485 East Bay St., Charleston, SC, 29403 (843) 577-6510

September 15, 2005: The Nature Conservancy Granted Significant Conservation Easement Adjacent To National Forest
Congaree-Carton Limited Partnership has granted The Nature Conservancy a conservation easement on a 465-acre portion of Fairlawn Plantation in Charleston County.


Mike Prevost
Phone: (843) 887-4380
E:mail: mprevost@tnc.org