Month: December 2018

Remember that every dollar you give to SCWF this holiday season goes directly to helping wildlife and wildlife habitat in South Carolina. Happy Holidays!

Greetings SCWF Wildlifer:

Hope the cooler weather is to your liking.  We at SCWF were ready for some relief from the heat in September, but it never happened.  We have noticed that fall colors are behind, but they should be coming on strong in the next two weeks.  We also have noticed that there are a number of birds that have delayed migration. I had kept my feeders out in the mountains and saw a hummingbird on October 28th – latest ever!

This time of year we ask our faithful supporters to give a gift for the wildlife of the Palmetto State!

2018 has been an extremely busy and fulfilling year for the Federation. On the habitat front, we are bringing in more and more manufacturing sites to our Wildlife and Industry (WAIT) program. Industries around the state are maximizing their commitment to wildlife management on lands that are wildlife-friendly.

In addition, we are in the middle of a campaign to increase wood duck boxes and osprey platforms in the Wateree River area.  We also now have Jay Keck coordinating more and more activities around improving habitat for monarchs, pollinators and other insects as agriculture activities have diminished the building blocks for wildlife in a significant way.

With education our annual Midlands Master Naturalist certifications and Women’s Outdoor Retreats were better and bigger than ever.  The Palmetto Pro Birder classes are selling out quickly, and more and more people are participating.  Let us know if you are not on our email list because the best way to keep up with the schedule and sign up early is through our regular email blasts.

On the advocacy side, we had a huge success this year with passage of a new Conservation Bank law that makes the Bank a permanent state agency. We are now making plans to ask the state legislature for increased Bank funding as the number of people participating in outdoor activities increases and wildlife is being pushed out of prime habitat through commercial and residential development.

We are blessed to have such wonderful conservation partners in our various coalition efforts as we fight to keep seismic blasting and oil/gas development out of the South Atlantic.  We also are blessed by our hundreds of loyal individual supporters, and we hope you will continue to be a part of South Carolina’s first conservation group.  Still growing stronger after 88 years.

Ben Gregg

Executive Director

SCWF Executive Director, Ben Gregg, has announced his retirement from the SC Wildlife Federation effective February 1st. See below for official announcement directly from Ben.

Ben has dedicated his life to conservation and advocacy for the great outdoors. Thank you, Ben, for everything you’ve done for South Carolina in the 12 years that you have served as our Executive Director. We will miss you!

Letter from SCWF Executive Director Ben Gregg:

Dear SCWF Members, Supporters, Conservation Partners and Friends: 

My twelve years at the helm of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation have been extremely rewarding thanks to our dedicated board, committed staff, generous members and amazing conservation partners.  Last spring I shared with the Board’s executive committee that I wanted to plan for my retirement, and we have agreed on February 1 as my last day.  

As it has been since our founding in 1931, the challenges for wildlife have continued to escalate, but I am confident that the organization is well-prepared for new leadership.

At SCWF, we are and will continue to be about three things:

There is outdoor education – for all ages!  Citizen Science is now at the forefront of all our education endeavors as we build an army of trained volunteers in every county.  Our Palmetto Pro Birder, Midlands Master Naturalist and Women’s Outdoor Retreat programs include quality training while also providing opportunities for fun and fellowship.  We have around 500 enthusiasts involved annually, and most stay involved by returning for outings and participating in a range of citizen science and service projects.

Second but no less important is habitat protection and enhancement from backyards to major corporate land holdings.  This task becomes more important every day as our farmlands, forests and open space are being bulldozed at a blistering pace. We also give recognition to neighborhoods and schools that are doing their vital part in protecting native habitat for wildlife.

And third is advocacy.

SCWF along with our conservation advocates have been victorious on a number of fronts over the past decade. With our partners, we have stopped the last proposed SC coal-powered plant from being built; forged an unprecedented coalition to keep oil and gas development from ruining our coastal beaches and salt marshes; passed legislation that authorizes the Conservation Bank as a permanent state agency and increased the footprint of healthy long leaf pine forests so critical for wildlife.

These are just some of the highlights, but as the saying goes, no conservation victory is forever.

The challenges ahead are immense. To list just a few:

• Largest population increases in state history
• Rapid commercial and residential pave-overs
• Heavier flooding and more periods of drought 
• Rising seas
• Loss of pollinators, the building blocks for healthy wildlife
• More severe and long-lasting pollution threats like mercury and plastics
• Vast reductions of wildlife numbers and increasing extinctions

Sadly, many elected officials in South Carolina continue to ignore a complex of conservation challenges that need immediate action.

On the other hand, time after time a majority of South Carolinians from every walk of life are behind us, and in a democracy, that is crucial.

I’m looking forward to staying in touch. You will never know what an honor it is to be part of such a thriving and absolutely critical effort. We do not prevail every time but almost without exception, our positions are proven right in the long run.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to join a distinguished group of leaders who have served as advocates for wildlife over the Federation’s 88 year history. And I look forward to seeing you as we continue to advance the cause for our cherished wildlife in the coming years.

Our board also wanted me to let you know that Sara Green, Education Director will become interim director while an in-depth search for a new director follows.

Thanks so much,
Ben Gregg
Executive Director