State needs to protect natural resources

Folks like gardeners and conservationists, who are known, obviously, for their green thumbs, might also have a bit of a Midas touch.

As it turns out, the ability to nurture our environment, as well as plants, is proving to be a way to grow South Carolina’s economy, according to a recent study.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources released this year a report detailing how the state’s hills, wetlands, beaches, waterways and areas in between are a vital part of the economy and a lure for new business and industry.

The study, conducted by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, was designed to determine the economic impact of our natural resources. The study revealed economic activities tied to our natural resources – not including agriculture – support more than 236,000 jobs and contribute $29.1 billion to the state’s economy.

Now, that’s a lot of green.

Our state’s rich and beautiful natural resources, the report states, support activities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, forestry, tourism and commercial boat manufacturing. Maintaining our state’s natural resources and protecting the waterways are essential to economic development, attracting an educated workforce and drawing entrepreneurs, according to the study.

The study serves as a reminder of the importance of areas such as the Woodbury Wildlife Management Area and Heritage Preserve, located in Marion County and acquired by the state in 2006. The property, consisting of more than 25,600 acres, offers visitors a place to hunt, fish, hike or watch wildlife.

Some of the study’s findings mirror those of similar reports showing that parks and open spaces create a high quality of life that is marketable to industry. Corporate executives, according to one such report, list employee quality of life as the third most important factor in locating a new business.

For small business owners, according to studies, recreation, parks and open space are ranked the highest priority in locating a new company. Our natural resources contribute the overall health of our communities, reducing obesity and lowering medical costs by encouraging exercise and recreation.

Preserving the state’s natural resources can help reduce crime and delinquency by providing quality recreation areas for our young people. Homes around parks and open space increase at a higher rate than similar properties and are more sought after by homebuyers.

The benefits of protecting our natural resources are good for business and make good business sense. As the Department of Natural Resources study and others show, there are tangible benefits to going green.

And, as the study’s title suggests, “Green means Green.”

Contact Sen. Williams at his Columbia office located at 602 Gressette Office Building at (803) 212-6008 or by fax at (803) 212-6011. His district office is located at 137 Airport Road, Suite J, Mullins, SC 29574, the phone number is (843) 423-8237 and the fax number is (843) 431-6049 or email .
Sen. Williams’ business phone is (843) 423-3904.