Peter Kleinhenz (Executive Director, Aiken Land Conservancy)

In South Carolina, gopher tortoises are about as scarce as a non-sweltering day in July. Only a few populations remain and, for that reason, opportunities to protect known habitat for them in the state don’t come around very often. However, such an opportunity arose late last year.

In December, the Aiken Land Conservancy (ALC) fielded an interesting call. The director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank (SCCB) came upon a listing for a property adjacent to the Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve (AGTHP). The AGTHP, managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), is home to the northernmost population of gopher tortoises anywhere in their range, along with several other listed species. The property next door had longleaf, wiregrass and, importantly, gopher tortoises but, if it got into the wrong hands, all of that could be lost. 

The SCCB director asked whether ALC could buy the property, hold it, and then ultimately transfer it to SCDNR to be added to the AGTHP. This would be a gamble, but ALC agreed to try. Many phone calls, project hiccups, and over $20,000 in due diligence expenses later, ALC was ready to buy the property, known as the Korn Tract, contingent upon a grant from the SCCB. Fortunately, they received a grant of $1,090,000 to cover the purchase price in spring of this year and were able to close on the Korn Tract in July. 

ALC will hold the property until SCDNR completes its many processes to be able to purchase the land from them. At that time, the Korn Tract will be incorporated into the AGTHP, managed with prescribed fire, and made accessible to the public. Multiple listed species, including at least a few gopher tortoises, will benefit and, importantly, will never have to worry about their home going away.