Board backs South Carolina Forestry Commission land acquisition covering 1,766 county acres

The Beaufort County Board of Education unanimously approved a motion authorizing the chair to sign a letter of support for the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Buckfield Land Acquisition Project.

Operations staff described the proposed acquisition as a collaboration among the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Open Space Institute, the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the South Carolina Office of Resilience and Beaufort County Greenspace. The project was presented to the board as approximately 2,828 acres in total, with about 1,766 acres lying inside Beaufort County. Staff said the Forestry Commission would be the long-term steward of the property and that management goals include sustainable timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, cultural resource protection, research and carbon sequestration.

A board member asked whether the school district would incur any cost; staff replied the board would not pay for the purchase today. Presenters also cited a provision (as stated in the meeting) that the Forestry Commission pays 25% of gross revenue generated on commission-managed land to the county for school purposes if timber or other sales yield proceeds.

The board’s motion to authorize the chair to sign a letter of support and allow the superintendent to submit it passed unanimously. The motion did not appropriate district funds; it expresses the board’s support for the conservation project and enables the superintendent to submit required materials by the Department of Administration deadline.

The board packet included a map and a request form; staff said the letter is required as part of the Forestry Commission’s approval process. The board did not take any further action on funding or management terms during this session.