Risks to Conservation amid forestry market collapse
During last week’s Senate Fish, Game, and Forestry hearing, Senators and forestry leaders confronted the deepening crisis in South Carolina’s forestry sector, triggered by a 25% drop in the state’s wood fiber market and the closure of ten mills in the past five years. This has resulted in the loss of 8.2 million tons of wood demand, representing $90 million in landowner losses and nearly $2 billion in total economic impact.
This economic downturn is not just a timber issue — it’s a conservation issue. Roughly 85% of South Carolina’s 12.8 million forested acres are privately owned, and many landowners use timber revenue as a means to preserve their land through conservation easements and sustainable land management.
Responsible timber harvesting can provide a dual benefit in South Carolina: it sustains forest health and offers landowners an economic incentive to keep land intact. Without a viable market for pulpwood, this incentive weakens, and the state risks losing a critical tool for conservation — risking forest fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and increased development.
As we reported a few weeks ago, the SC Forestry Commission is championing targeted conservation funding by requesting $5 million in one-time dollars for strategic land protection and $300,000 annually for conservation staffing. This funding would directly support keeping forests intact and working — ensuring they continue to provide clean water, wildlife habitat, and watershed resilience while supporting the broader forestry economy.
The message from the hearing was clear: forestry and conservation are intertwined, and any solution must honor that relationship. Market support is vital, but it must be balanced with thoughtful, science-backed conservation — not short-term fixes that risk degrading our natural resources further.
You can watch the hearing here — scroll down to April 16, 9:30 am.
Myra Reece passes initial screening by Senate committee
After two hearings to consider qualifications and field questions for Myra Reece, interim Director of the Department of Environmental Services, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend her appointment as Director of this new agency. Throughout the hearings, Ms. Reece reiterated her commitment to finding workable solutions through conversations about the complex environmental issues facing our state. Her appointment now heads to the Senate for a vote.
Support for native plants
Last week the Senate passed a concurrent resolution — H.4211 — recognizing the vital role of native plants in supporting the state’s environment, economy, and cultural heritage. It encourages state agencies, local governments, and private landowners to prioritize the use of native species for landscaping, erosion control, and vegetation management. The resolution highlights the many benefits of native plants, including their ability to support pollinators, improve water quality, conserve biodiversity, and require fewer resources like water and fertilizer compared to nonnative species.
An amendment to the resolution clarifies that it does not create or change state law but instead reflects the General Assembly’s support for native plant conservation. The resolution also urges the Department of Administration to share this message across state agencies to help promote sustainable and ecologically responsible land management practices statewide.
Read more about the Upstate’s native flora and fauna in a past issue of the Upstate Advocate.
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