News and Press Releases for November 2006

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11/27/2006

Gov. Sanford's Budget to Add $20 Million to Conservation Bank

Executive Budget to More than Double Conservation Fund for Land Purcahses, Conservation Easements

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford announced today that his upcoming Executive Budget will add $20 million to the South Carolina Conservation Land Bank, for a total of $35 million aimed at bolstering the state's ability to set aside land for future generations. The new money could be used both for land purchases and additional conservation easements, and could be leveraged with private and federal dollars in order to preserve undeveloped land across the state. Gov. Sanford said that augmenting the state's conservation efforts is particularly important now, given the growth the state is expected to experience in the next decade.

"Preserving the way South Carolina looks and feels is key to our quality of life, which is an important competitive advantage for our state," Gov. Sanford said. "With the growth we're expecting to see in our state over the next ten years, now is the time to make sure our natural resources are protected going forward. Our administration has already set aside more land than any other in South Carolina history, and I think this additional funding will go a long way toward building upon that legacy of stewardship for generations to come."

Over the next decade, South Carolina's population is expected to increase by more than 1 million people. In addition, South Carolina is already converting nearly 200 acres of timber and agricultural land to urban and suburban uses per day. The Conservation Land Bank has protected more than 72,000 acres in South Carolina since it was created, at a cost of roughly $420 per acre. Gov. Sanford's administration has directly been involved in the conservation of a number of ecologically significant tracts, such as Bonneau Ferry, the Wee Tee tract and more recently the Hamilton Ridge and Woodbury Tracts.