A Resilient State - Sustain SC Land and Water Action Platform
Conservation is a key part of our work at Sustain SC.
We not only work with companies, but also partner with conservation organizations and state agencies to help protect and preserve our land for generations to come.
After five consecutive years of flooding and storms, South Carolina’s Office of Resilience (SCOR) has created a plan to protect our state’s natural resources and buffer our communities from increased threats through nature-based solutions.
Sustain SC is collaborating with SCOR, as well as businesses and organizations in the industry and conservation sectors, to focus on more than just mitigating environmental issues, but shifting to land and water protection. By investing in sustainable conservation initiatives throughout the state, the joint efforts will reduce risk, encourage opportunities, and protect natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
“Working in the realm of conservation science and land protection in SC over the past two decades, I’ve recognized the uniqueness of our state in both our approach and success in conservation. South Carolina has abundant, intact natural resources, a land ethic and sense of place among our landowners and citizens, and an incredible capacity for collaboration. Sustain SC has created the venue, secured the tools, and convened the players to accomplish collaborative conservation at a new scale for SC.”
— MARIA WHITEHEAD
Senior Project Director, Open Space Institute
Case Studies
Land And Water Action Platform
In 2022, Sustain SC launched the Land and Water Action Platform (LWAP), a new conservation platform dedicated to protecting South Carolina's precious natural resources. This platform leverages private dollars for conservation projects. We work closely with partners across the state to help raise dollars for conservation.
Watershed Resource Registry
South Carolina is the first state in United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 to develop a Watershed Resources Registry (WRR). South Carolina’s WRR has been guided by the leadership of Sustain South Carolina. The WRR brings together data models and layers from state agencies and conservation organizations to create one comprehensive tool to assess mitigation and conservation opportunities in South Carolina alike. The WRR is a free, online resource that can be used by conservationists, mitigation bankers, planners and economic developers, students and more.
Use the WRR here.
Human Resilience And Biodiversity
Sustain SC is partnering with The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), the Healthy Business Challenge, the SC Aquarium and others to hold a workshop in early 2025 exploring the connection between our environment and human health. This will focus on how green infrastructure, nature-based solutions and biodiversity can not only have a positive impact on people, but also our environment.
We are implementing the roadmap to Sustain South Carolina.
Learn more about the other Accelerators that drive our strategic plan.