Why was 2007 such a remarkable year for conservation? (Between 2003 and 2006, the EIOLT averaged three new tracts preserved each year – compared to 12 tracts in 2007!) The most important reason is our growing membership support. Many of you increased the size of your membership gifts to EIOLT last year,
and this made a big difference in the “greening” of Edisto.
The Land Trust works for you, our members, and our shared vision for Edisto’s future is the foundation for our conservation efforts. Your contributions pay for our operations and for land protection costs -- approximately 85% of our funding comes from members and 15% from grants. With conservative fiscal management, we’ve kept our overhead low, so that more and more of your dollars can go directly into land protection. The future looks bright for 2008 and beyond. The dream of “keeping Edisto rural and natural” seems closer to reality than ever before.
P.S. Special recognition goes to two EIOLT Board Members who gave freely of their time and talents during EIOLT’s hectic last Quarter: Lane Brown, Trustee and Chair of the Land Protection Committee, and BoBo Lee, Board President.
Marian Brailsford
Best Wishes to a Special Bride and Groom
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Freeze (Christine and Adam) did something a little different at their September 22 wedding on Edisto. Adam is the son of Jan Myers, an Edisto resident and loyal EIOLT member.
He grew up here, and his passion for the unspoiled beauty of the island runs deep. Adam and his bride, Christine, who is from Charlotte, decided to be married at Cypress Trees Plantation. At the reception Adam made an announcement to the guests – instead of the usual favors for the wedding party and guests, the bride and groom made a donation to the Edisto Island Open Land Trust in honor of all the friends and family who attended.
Their generous wedding donation will be used to protect more land on Edisto.
We applaud this young couple for making a difference to the Edisto Island landscape – it will be remembered and appreciated by many for a long, long time.
photo by Wendie Smith
Highway 174 Property Preserved Just Off Island
Approaching Edisto near the intersection of Little Britton Road and Highway 174, there is a long stretch of forest, fields and marsh waterfront protected by a conservation easement to EIOLT. The owners, Roy and Beth Smoak, decided that the easement would prohibit structures on the 65.64 acres of land, but would allow for growing trees and landscaping plants. Their “Little Britton Tree Farms” has planted the 80 EIOLT’s Legacy Live Oaks along Scenic Highway 174. Now the land where these special trees get their start is preserved for all time.
Roy and Beth agreed that their primary motivation for placing this land under conservation easement was their nine grandchildren. Beth said, “years ago we realized that a part of our responsibility was to give balance to the education of these little people. They all live in the city and have a lot of learning opportunities at good schools, libraries, the Nature, History and Discovery Channels on cable TV, high-speed internet, etc., but none of these can compare to the learning experience of seeing a live Bald Eagle, finding a bird’s nest, digging up part of an old cannon ball, learning to identify different kinds of animal tracks in the dirt road, or just sitting very still and quiet to listen and watch the wonders around them. Partnering with the Edisto Island Open Land Trust to preserve our land is a kind of ‘savings account’ for our children’s children.”
US Senate Gives Christmas
Gift to Conservationists
Congress gave the conservation community a gift this holiday season. On December 14, 2007, the Senate passed a Farm Bill that includes a provision making permanent the enhanced conservation easement tax incentives package that was passed in 2006. This 2006 law expired on 12/31/07. A final bill will require a House-Senate Conference during January, 2008. If the Conference approves the Senate provision, it will become law, and will be made retroactive to January 1, 2008. If passed, the enhanced tax incentives will make permanent:
A tax deduction of 50% of the donor’s adjusted gross income (AGI) in the year he donates a conservation easement and for each year thereafter for up to 15 years, or until the allowable deduction is used up.
For a qualifying farmer or rancher, the tax deduction would be 100% of his AGI in the year he donates a conservation easement and for each year thereafter for up to 15 years, or until the allowable deduction is used up.
Visit the Land Trust Alliance website www.lta.org or EIOLT’s www.edisto.org for updates on this legislation.
Update – Scenic Highway 174 Coalition
The work is on-going to apply for the National Scenic Byway designation for Edisto’s Highway 174. There will be a meeting of the Scenic 174 Coalition leaders on Thursday, February 21, to continue this work in process. At a recent EIPA (Edisto Island Preservation Alliance) Steering Committee meeting, there was discussion about the stewardship responsibility once the National Scenic Byway designation goal is accomplished. EIPA members voted to approve a motion that the EIPA organization will serve as the future overseer and advisor of the Scenic 174 Corridor Management Plan.
Protect Edisto Island
for
Future Generations
EDISTO ISLAND
NEEDS YOU
NOW! Membership Information
Edisto Island Open Land Trust P.O. Box 1
Edisto Island, South
Carolina 29438
(843) 869-9004
Fax: (843) 869-7820 eiolt@bellsouth.net
Contact Us
of forest, fields and marsh waterfront protected by a conservation easement to EIOLT. The owners, Roy and Beth Smoak, decided that the easement would prohibit structures on the 65.64 acres of land, but would allow for growing trees and landscaping plants. Their “Little Britton Tree Farms” has planted the 80 EIOLT’s Legacy Live Oaks along Scenic Highway 174. Now the land where these special trees get their start is preserved for all time.