State Sen. Chip Campsen’s detailed Conservation and Antiquities Act (CAA) would double the amount of protected land by 2050.
“South Carolina Land Trust Network’s Jennifer Howard: Gov.@HenryMcMaster, Floodwater Commission Chairman Tom Mullikin and @SenatorCampsen outlined a bold vision to double the amount of protected land by 2050, from about 3 million acres to 6 million acres,” state Sen. Tom Davis tweeted.
The CAA would dedicate land protection funding to the SC Conservation Bank from existing fees on real estate transfers and fund improvements on state-owned lands from existing taxes on the sale of sporting goods, according to The Post and Courier.
The CAA would not increase or create new taxes, but instead dedicate existing revenue to support conservation and public lands management.
It’s a thoughtful and financially sound approach that would solidify our state as a leader in land conservation during a time of unprecedented growth, according to The Post and Courier reported.
More than 60% of South Carolina’s forestland is owned by family landowners. While some are financially positioned to pursue land protection, many others are making difficult decisions that pit their personal financial realities against generations of memories on family farms, according to The Post and Courier.
