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Governor to proclaim next week as ‘Beidler Forest Week’

Published Friday, November 28, 2008 9:01 AM

Summerville Journal Scene ®

In honor of the National Audubon Society’s Francis Beidler Forest and the significant private land conservation and education programs being achieved there, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford will proclaim November 30 – December 6 as Beidler Forest Week.   

At a December 4 celebration of Beidler Forest’s designation as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the Governor will officially sign the proclamation and unveil the new dedication plaque commemorating the honor.  

Norman Brunswig, Executive Director of Audubon South Carolina said, “The  Ramsar designation is the ‘Oscars’ of wetland conservation and validation of more than 35 years of work on wetlands essential to the people of South Carolina. There is (a) need to protect this vital resource from a host of threats, including urban sprawl and poorly sited industrial development continues.  We are gratified to have the Governor’s support and encourage all of you to come see us and help support this rare ecosystem.”  

Purchased by the Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy in 1969, Francis Beidler Forest originally comprised just over 3,400 acres of Four Holes Swamp.  Within that stand were the 1,783 acres of old-growth forest that the sanctuary is still famous for.  It was - and is - one of only two stands of old-growth forest left in the entire state, and is the largest forest of its kind on Earth.  

Blessed with 1,000-year old Bald Cypress trees and abundant native wildlife, the Sanctuary was opened to the public in 1977 after completion of the 1.75-mile boardwalk and visitor center.  Since then, several hundred thousand visitors and school children from all over the state, the country and the world have enjoyed the swamp.

During that time, the Sanctuary has grown to nearly 16,000 acres of land owned and managed by Audubon, with several thousand additional acres protected by private conservation easements in and around the swamp.

In May of 2008, in Washington DC, Francis Beidler Forest received the aforementioned Ramsar designation.  One of only 23 Ramsar sites in the entire country, the first and only Ramsar site in South Carolina, and the only privately-owned site in the world, Beidler Forest is now in the company of other famous U.S. Ramsar sites such as the Okefenokee Swamp, Everglades National Park, and the Chesapeake Bay.  " Preserving and protecting places like the Beidler Forest is a key part of the quality of life we enjoy in South Carolina, and we're pleased to be a part of that effort," said Governor Mark Sanford.

“Audubon is proud that the extraordinary Beidler Forest is being honored by the International Ramsar Convention;” said John Flicker, President of the National Audubon Society. “This designation underscores the importance of protecting and preserving our wetlands; when they disappear, so do birds and other wildlife, as well as natural water quality and flood protection.”  

Favored by hundreds of thousands of birds that migrate to South Carolina after wintering in South America, the region was recognized as an Important Bird Area in 2001.

“Beidler Forest is one of only a few sites in the U.S. recognized as both an Important Bird Area and a Ramsar site; “said John Cecil, Director of the Important Bird Areas Program for Audubon and the Society’s Representative on the U.S. Ramsar Committee. “This dual acknowledgement celebrates not only the beauty and rich biodiversity found at Beidler, but the collaboration of Audubon, its partners, and the communities in and around Beidler.  Each has played an essential role in conserving this jewel.“

Farming has replaced forest over of the adjacent uplands. Droughts over the past several decades have triggered interest by farmers in damming tributary swales as emergency sources of irrigation water.  Other threats to the ecosystem include swamp logging; nearby fill-dirt mines; non-point-source water runoff from surrounding farms; incompatible land uses; urban sprawl from Charleston and Summerville to the east; residential development due to sprawl and industrial development as a result of Highway I-26’s proximity; and poorly designed or maintained private septic systems that pose a risk of bacteria contamination to the Four Holes Swamp and its tributaries.

For more information about the designation, visit www.ramsar.org. To learn more about Audubon South Carolina, visit http://sc.audubon.org

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