WOODBURY — State and local officials celebrated Friday the state’s completed purchase of the Woodberry Wildlife Management Area in lower Marion County, which they said represents one of the largest habitat conservation purchases in Palmetto State history.
The 25,668 acre tract is located off of U.S. 378, near the point where the Great and Little Pee Dee Rivers meet.
“From an ecological standpoint, this is one of the most important acquisitions in the state’s history,” S.C. Department of Natural Resources Director Jon Frampton said. This is a tract of land that has significant cultural and historic value and really high wildlife diversity and plant diversity.”
The land previously was owned by International Paper Co. and was slated for sale as part of a company decision to divest land holdings.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources initially purchased a 56 percent interest in the land in 2006, while the Nature Conservancy and the Conservation Fund held title to the remaining 44 percent.
In 2009, the state was able to complete the purchase using funds from the S.C. Conservation Bank and the Heritage Trust Bond to pay the initial interest on the property.
The remaining funding came from various sources including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a state wildlife grant, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, a Coastal Wetlands grant and the U.S. Forest Service. The total cost of the land acquisition ws $28.9 million.
“Preserving the way we look and feel as a state not only improves our quality of life, but also speaks to this larger notion of competitiveness in an increasingly ‘flat’ world,” Gov. Mark Sanford said of the purchase. “In that sense, I’d applaud the hard work of all involved in acquiring this tract of land, and urge continued efforts to protect valuable environmental assets like the Woodbury forestland all across this state.”
In addition to providing protection for plants and animals in the forest and wetland areas, the purchase protects a combined 39 miles of river corridor. The land is home to such birds as the Kentucky warbler, rusty blackbird, Louisiana waterthrush, swallow-tailed kite, Swainson’s warbler and other animals such as bears and deer.
Frampton said the site also was a famous hiding place for the “Swamp Fox,” Gen. Francis Marion, during the American Revolution.
DNR officials say the purchase will ensure generations of South Carolinians have a place to enjoy nature.
“People need outdoor places to enhance their quality of life ...,” DNR Wildlife Coordinator Sam Stokes said. “That’s why it’s important to protect places like this, where the public can access these properties and enjoy wildlife related recreation.”
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