Last fall, Lowcountry Land Trust proudly announced the first-ever projects funded by the newly formed Dorchester County Greenbelt Program for the benefit of the public. In addition to the recently recorded conservation easement on Young’s Farm, one of those projects includes the permanent protection of the Barry Tract, a 67-acre piece of land along the Ashley River Road Historic Byway.
The Barry tract’s rich and diverse ecological landscape features woodlands, wetlands, tidal streams, and trails. Additionally, the site holds archaeological significance, with artifacts dating back to the early 1700s that contribute to the historical importance of the Ashley River Historic District in the founding of South Carolina and the country.
The protection of the Barry Tract came to fruition thanks to an innovative collaboration between Lowcountry Land Trust, the Dorchester County Greenbelt Program, and Atlantic Packaging. Thanks to these combined efforts, the Barry Tract, which was once threatened by development, will become a Dorchester County Park, offering residents recreational access to the Ashley River – a designated State Scenic River. Additional funding for the project was provided by the South Carolina Conservation Bank and the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant.
Wes Carter, board member of Lowcountry Land Trust and president of Atlantic Packaging, created and fuels the company’s values framework, A New Earth Project. Inspired by the landscapes and waterways Lowcountry Land Trust works to protect, he saw an opportunity to contribute to the acquisition and subsequent protection of the Barry Tract as a voluntary mitigation of Atlantic Packaging’s land use footprint. His forward-thinking approach to conservation was a driving force in the success of this project.
Watch the video below to learn more about Atlantic Packaging’s vision for industry’s role in championing conservation via voluntary mitigation, and to listen to Wes’s conversation with David Ray, Lowcountry Land Trust chief conservation officer, about the Barry Tract.
Video Credit: Atlantic Packaging
