Charleston County established its Greenbelt Program following passage of the County’s first ½ cent sales tax in 2004. In just over two decades, this program has proven to be one of the most effective land conservation initiatives in the country. It has protected more than 26,000 acres of land, including properties with exceptional ecological, historic and recreational value.
These conserved lands support rural livelihoods , provide public water access, conserve ecologically and culturally sensitive areas, and provide essential flood mitigation and water purification functions.
In addition, the Greenbelt Program has removed the potential for sprawling development in the rural parts of the county, thereby lessening increases in traffic congestion and reducing the need to spend tax dollars on new and expanded roads.
The success and efficiency of the Charleston Greenbelt Program stems from its reliance on local , regional and national land trusts working in the county to identify and negotiate land conservation deals with landowners. These proposals are then competitively ranked by the County Greenbelt Advisory Board and submitted to the County Council for funding. As a result, the program has achieved the most important conservation outcomes at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.
