Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust

Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust is a private nonprofit organization led by volunteer professionals who are dedicated to preserving the natural, cultural and historical resources in and around the Ashley River Headwaters, the Cooper River Basin, Four Holes Swamp and the Santee Basin. Our Trust only works with willing landowners who desire to protect the integrity of their properties, and we do so in a manner that respects private property rights. “Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, cultural and historical sites, and productive lands that anchor our community’s sense of place.” Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust works with private landowners to develop conservation strategies for their property. Typically, this results in their land being placed under a conservation easement, a legally binding agreement that permanently restricts extensive development while allowing it to remain in private ownership and used for traditional purposes like hunting, farming and timber management. A conservation easement is permanent, which ensures that the integrity of the land will be secured in perpetuity.