The Chelsea property in Jasper County is now permanently protected! This is a monumental win for conservation, rural land use planning and maintaining the character of Jasper County. Over the past years, the Conservation League played a critical role in preventing this property from being annexed and intensely developed, partnering with, informing, and rallying community members to advocate against annexation, which would have brought unprecedented and incompatible growth to rural Jasper County. Today, The Nature Conservancy announced their purchase of the 2,713-acre property, which will be protected with a conservation easement held by the Open Land Trust and, eventually, accessible to the public in the future. The Conservation League’s role in protecting Chelsea is the epitome of our advocacy work. Our team is often first to engage on the ground, bringing community members to the table to express their views to local government. We are thrilled that Chelsea will be protected through a conservation easement that will safeguard the community. The Chelsea tract has high conservation potential because of its proximity to the Broad River and Port Royal Sound. Landscape-scale conservation like this helps ensure clean air and water for the entire region. Hunting, fishing, and spending time on the water are a quintessential part of the Lowcountry experience. Learn more about this important property: https://coastalconservationleague.org/news/press-releases/over-2700-acres-of-chelsea-property-protected-forever/ (fb)

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