Lowcountry Land Trust enters 40th year poised for future conservation success

Nonprofit marks 2025 as a turning point for conservation in coastal South Carolina

Lowcountry Land Trust, a nonprofit committed to preserving Lowcountry landscapes and waterways for current and future generations, is excited to celebrate its incredible accomplishments of 2025. The year saw measurable landscape-scale and community conservation impact, organizational milestones, and an increased effort to create more public access opportunities to protected land across the Lowcountry, reinforcing the organization’s strength as it enters its 40th year.

Major Milestones

• Organizational leadership evolved with the hiring of Matt Williams as president and CEO and Kate Parks Schaefer as chief conservation officer. Together with staff, they will continue to focus on accelerating the pace of land conservation, supporting public education and programming at the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, and bringing to life the nationally-significant Angel Oak Preserve.
• The opening of the Lowcountry Center for Conservation marked a new chapter. The Center for Conservation is the organization’s first permanent headquarters and a new hub for public education, collaborative partnerships, and conservation leadership. Located on the historic Ashem Farm, the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, specifically the Sam Carlton Room, serves as a convening space for conservation partners committed to protecting land and waterways throughout the region.
• The fiscal year 2025 audit revealed that 91% of the organization’s expenses are directly allocated to mission-related activities, with just 6.4% dedicated to fundraising and 2.6% to management and general operations.
• Lowcountry Land Trust was also one of only two organizations nationwide selected to host a Land Trust Alliance Fellow, a competitive, yearlong fellowship focused on advancing community lands projects. The fellowship brought Emelyn Talento to the Lowcountry, where she works alongside staff to support conservation efforts that prioritize public access, community connection, and equitable use of protected land.

“2025 was a year that reaffirmed both who we are and where we’re going in our 40th year,” said Matt Williams, president and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust. “It’s an honor to lead an organization with this depth of trust, history, and impact, and to build on work that has shaped the Lowcountry for four decades.”

Significant Land Conservation Milestones

• The Land Trust finalized 19 conservation projects, permanently protecting 2,275 acres across the Lowcountry. Nine of those properties, totaling 1,118 acres, are slated to become publicly accessible parks with education, interpretation, and recreational opportunities, reflecting the organization’s commitment to community-centered conservation. The other 50% of acres protected by Lowcountry Land Trust in 2025 represent rural, landscape-scale conservation efforts, a priority of partners across the state.
• With its partners, the Land Trust achieved a rare conservation first for the region by leading a voluntary mitigation project at the Barry Tract, protecting 67 acres along the Ashley River Road National Scenic Byway. The project paired Atlantic Packaging’s voluntary land-use offset with Dorchester County’s creation of a future county park, offering a new model for balancing growth and building public benefit
• The future Angel Oak Preserve received national recognition and was designated a Community Forest, drawing continued praise for its preservation-focused design plans and reinforcing its significance as both a cultural and environmental landmark. In 2025, the Land Trust and its partners prepared the tree for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing the importance of the project.
• Stewardship remained a core priority, with 100% of Lowcountry Land Trust’s protected properties, 552 in total, monitored by staff, trained volunteers, and technology, underscoring the organization’s efficiency and long-term commitment to land protected in perpetuity.

Support from longtime partners and donors made these outcomes possible, including members of the Longleaf Society, corporate impact partners, and contributors to the David Maybank Warder Conservation Fund and the Sam Carlton Memorial Fund. These partnerships ensure that Lowcountry Land Trust can continue its important work of protecting land and water forever.

As Lowcountry Land Trust begins to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the momentum built in 2025 is shaping what comes next. With new leadership, strong partnerships, and a clear vision for the future, the organization is poised to protect more land, expand public access, and deepen the role conservation plays in the lives of Lowcountry residents.

Stay connected by following @LowcountryLandTrust on social media and signing up for their email newsletter to receive the latest updates on conservation efforts and ways to get involved.

ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST

Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 165,000 acres since 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful land trusts in the country. Its work includes the stewardship of privately owned land and iconic public places, such as the future Angel Oak Preserve—a 44-acre passive park and living museum in partnership with the City of Charleston. More information about Lowcountry Land Trust is available at www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.