Beaufort County Celebrates Regional Conservation Win with Jasper County
Thursday, October 29, 2026 3:06 PM
Beaufort and Jasper Counties have been awarded the South Carolina Association of Counties’ (SCAC) prestigious Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Regional Cooperation Award in recognition of the Beaufort County Green Space Program. The award celebrates Beaufort County’s leadership in establishing South Carolina’s first local Green Space Program and executing a multi-agency partnership with Jasper County and other state, federal, and non-profit conservation partners to protect vital Lowcountry lands and headwaters.
The SCAC Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Regional Cooperation Award highlights the critical need for collaborative solutions and regional strategies among South Carolina local governments. The competition evaluates written applications and live presentations before a panel of judges, recognizing multi-jurisdictional projects that achieve lasting community impact through shared resources.
Recognizing that watersheds, rivers, and wildlife habitats do not adhere to county boundaries, Beaufort County established a groundbreaking regional framework becoming the first county in South Carolina to authorize investing local green space funds across county lines into an adjacent jurisdiction.
Learn more about how the process works and hear directly from our partners on what collaborative efforts like this can protect here:
The Beaufort County Green Space Program is unique in that it can bring together a coalition of key regional and federal partners to leverage purchases into meaningful conservation outcomes. The program has protected over 9,400 acres across the Lowcountry region thanks to the help of state and federal agencies, conservation groups, and county partnerships.
“It’s been a wonderful relationship between the two counties. I think this is a monumental thing,” said Jasper County Council Chair Joey Rowell. “Being able to call one another, sit down and discuss things strategically . . . it gives us that sense of regionalism and this could be a model to other counties in the state."
For detailed information on local green space conservation projects, including how to apply for future cycles, please visit the Beaufort County Green Space Program.