Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Designates South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape in the Longleaf Pine Range and Celebrates Recent Accomplishments

The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership announced several exciting updates, starting with the designation of the South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape!  This landscape encompasses more than 2.2 million acres of longleaf pine forest, working farmlands, saltmarsh, forested wetlands, and unbroken wildlife corridors which support immense biodiversity and provide training opportunities for three military installations.  The partnership will support natural resource conservation efforts, water quality enhancement, local agriculture, climate resilience, and long-term military readiness.   

With the designation of the South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape, it becomes the fifth Sentinel Landscape within the historic longleaf range.  The previously designated Avon Park Air Force Range, Northwest Florida, Georgia, and Eastern North Carolina Sentinel Landscapes all have contributed greatly to the goals and objectives of ALRI and are stunning examples of the impact that effective partnerships can have on conservation!

The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is also pleased to announce that the 2022 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report is now available.  The report outlines how the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership enables the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Interior (DOI), and their on-the-ground partners to combine resources and align funding to pursue mutually beneficial land use goals in sentinel landscapes.  

The report demonstrates that through Fiscal Year 2021, projects across sentinel landscapes have attracted roughly $197 million in DOD funds, $307 million in USDA funds, $70 million in DOI funds, $324 million in state funds, $21 million in local funds, and $135 million in private funds.   These contributions have permanently protected nearly 610,000 acres of land and enrolled over 3.1 million acres of land in financial and technical assistance programs.

The report also highlights case studies from the Fort Huachuca and Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscapes that illustrate how work through the Sentinel Landscape Partnership led to innovative outcomes for protecting and managing working lands. 

Lastly, 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership.  To commemorate a decade of impact, the partnership will be hosting special events throughout the year to recognize its commitment to working with landowners and land managers to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, bolster agricultural and forestry economies, increase public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance resilience to climate change. 

To find more information about the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, please visit sentinellandscapes.org or subscribe to the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership listserv to receive updates, news, and announcements. 

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