State Forestry Commission and partners celebrate opening of Dorchester County’s first State Forest
June 30, 2026
Left to Right: Chief Land Protection Officer Nate Berry; Open Space Institute; Chairman David Chinnis, Dorchester County Council; South Carolina State Forester Scott Phillips, South Carolina State Forestry Commission; and Director Raleigh West, South Carolina Conservation Bank. Photo Credit: Dorchester County Government.
New State Forest is the largest funded project from Dorchester County’s Greenbelt Program
On June 25, 2026, leaders from the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC), Open Space Institute (OSI), Dorchester County, and South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB) celebrated the dedication of Old Beech Hill State Forest, officially marking the transfer of more than 1,600 acres of conserved forestland from OSI to SCFC and establishing South Carolina’s sixth, and Dorchester County’s first, state forest.
The dedication event, held on the edge of the 1,644-acre former timber tract, brought together state and local leaders to mark the culmination of a collaborative conservation effort that transformed a tract of land that was previously privately-owned and vulnerable to development into an enduring public resource and new highlight of the state’s public forest system.
“Today marks an exciting addition to our state forest system,” said Scott Phillips, State Forester. “Old Beech Hill State Forest will provide long-term benefits from clean water and wildlife habitat to recreation and sustainable forestry. This milestone reflects the power of partnership and our shared commitment to conserving forests for the benefit of our communities, today and tomorrow.”
Beech Hill, Dorchester County, South Carolina. Photo by Brown Land + Plantation Advisors.
A 1,644-acre timber tract situated between the Edisto River Wildlife Management Area and Givhans Ferry State Park.
Conservation of the property preserves vital green space in a booming region. Located in Dorchester County, the forest is part of a critical corridor of undeveloped land between the Edisto River Wildlife Management Area and Givhans Ferry State Park. Its permanent protection prevents fragmentation of natural lands while expanding public recreational access and ensuring long-term, sustainable forest management.
The property was identified as a high-priority conservation opportunity due to its location amid intensifying development pressure and its unusually high and dry terrain for the Lowcountry—making it especially vulnerable to subdivision.
