Did you know Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the most impactful local land trusts in South Carolina, holding more conservation easements and acreage than any other organization in the state? Our team is continually working to expand its portfolio of protected landscapes and waterways, and it is essential that we simultaneously assess our impact and proactively plan our next steps.
Over the summer, Lowcountry Land Trust welcomed Jack Alexander, GIS & Conservation Planning Manager, to our team. He plays a pivotal role in planning for, documenting, and reporting on land protected in perpetuity by the organization. Originally from Idaho, Jack holds a degree in Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and has over four years of experience in GIS (Geographic Information Systems), including diverse applications ranging from wildlife research to urban planning.
At the Land Trust, Jack manages all GIS data across various software and is responsible for creating maps for prospective easements, legal documents, conservation value analysis, planning initiatives, and even cultivation meetings and events. Sometimes a picture is truly worth a thousand words, and thanks to Jack’s education, expertise, and passion, Lowcountry Land Trust utilizes detailed maps as tools that support our overall conservation mission in the Lowcountry.
As the Land Trust and its partners work to balance the Lowcountry’s rapid growth, its Land Protection team relies heavily on GIS documentation to understand the connectivity of protected and unprotected areas and to strategize conservation priorities. Jack’s GIS work is also used to understand how the organization’s conservation efforts fit into the larger picture of city and county-level comprehensive plans, as demonstrated in the map created to illustrate how conservation easements reinforce Charleston’s Urban Growth Boundary on Johns Island, and vice versa.
We look forward to sharing more of Jack’s work alongside the organization’s conservation plans and wins. Stay tuned by subscribing to our email newsletter or following us on social media!
