Resilience and Conservation
Economic growth and environmental stewardship can work together to ensure a resilient future for South Carolina’s economy, environment and people.
We work with companies and partner with conservation organizations and state agencies to protect and preserve South Carolina’s natural resources—fostering a resilient future for our state.
South Carolina’s Office of Resilience (SCOR) has created a plan to protect our state’s natural resources and buffer our communities from increased threats through nature-based solutions.
Sustain SC is collaborating with SCOR, as well as businesses and organizations in the industry and conservation sectors, to focus on more than just mitigating environmental issues, but shifting to land and water protection. By investing in conservation initiatives throughout the state, these joint efforts will reduce risk, encourage opportunities and protect South Carolina’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster speaks about the importance of land and water conservation in South Carolina at Sustain SC’s Conservation Summit.
Strategic Actions
TOGETHER, OUR ACCELERATOR WORKING GROUP IS ADVANCING THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:
Sustainable Water Management: In 2025, Sustain SC members came together to start a conversation about what a collective vision will look like as South Carolina rapidly grows. In 2026, we will expand this conversation through a regional roundtable series to address how our water quality and quantity can be abundant going into the future. Learn more about our 2025 water workshop here.
The Economics of Biodiversity: In 2025, Sustain SC brought together a cross-section of business leaders, HR professionals, operations managers, public health experts and sustainability advocates for a half-day workshop that explored how biodiversity is not only vital to the health of our natural world, but also to the resilience of our economy, the well-being of our workforce and the future of sustainable business in South Carolina. Learn more here.
“South Carolina has made significant strides in safeguarding our natural resources, protecting over 100,000 acres in just the last few years, and the re-launch of Sustain SC’s Land and Water Action Platform will accelerate these efforts. By bringing leaders together, we will ensure that our conservation keeps pace with our development, preserving the beauty of our state for future generations.”
— Governor Henry McMaster
Governor of South Carolina
Case Studies
Land And Water Action Platform
The Land and Water Action Platform (LAWAP) is a conservation funding initiative that connects corporate investment with tangible conservation outcomes across South Carolina. In 2025, Sustain SC raised $325,000 toward the Platform and has awarded $252,900 across 12 projects spanning 11 counties and seven recipient organizations. In total, these funds have helped protect 13,305 acres of land and water in South Carolina.