Last weekend, Audubon South Carolina welcomed more than 120 supporters, partners, and community members to Silver Bluff Sanctuary to celebrate a milestone half a century in the making. For 50 years, the sanctuary has served as a model of sustainable land management and ecological restoration.
At the event, we also recognized Governor Henry McMaster with Audubon’s Conservation Champion Award, for his leadership on land protection across the state. The Governor’s presence underscored just how far South Carolina has come in prioritizing conservation and how central places like Silver Bluff have been in shaping that story.
“Silver Bluff represents the very best of what happens when we commit to protecting the places that make South Carolina special,” said Rebecca Haynes, executive director of Audubon South Carolina. “Governor McMaster’s support for land conservation has accelerated that vision. At a time when growth pressures are intense, his leadership has made it clear that conservation and economic development don’t have to be competing priorities.”
Silver Bluff spans 3,400 acres of protected forests, wetlands, fields, and floodplains along the Savannah River, where wildlife and people have all found refuge, including more than 200 bird species.
The award ceremony took place on the sanctuary’s iconic bluff overlooking the Savannah River, where attendees also enjoyed barbecue, live music, and remarks from National Audubon Chief Conservation Officer Marshall Johnson, Senator Tom Young, and Representative Bill Hixon.
Governor McMaster was honored in recognition of his administration’s strong commitment to conservation, including the recent announcement of the largest conservation easement in South Carolina history. Under his leadership, the state has accelerated efforts to protect working farms and forests and safeguard the landscapes that define South Carolina’s identity.
Silver Bluff has a rich cultural and natural history. It was once the ancestral territory of the Yuchi (Euchee) people and a sacred gathering place for the Creek (Muscogee). Over the years, it has been home to a Revolutionary War-era British fort, to former South Carolina Governor and infamous enslaver James Henry Hammond, and eventually, to one of the oldest African American churches and cemeteries in the nation.
Silver Bluff was donated to Audubon by Floyd Starr in the 1970s. Since then, Audubon has used the sanctuary to introduce landowners to bird-friendly forestry practices, while also preserving and managing the land for wildlife.
Thanks to our sponsors for supporting the event and Audubon’s mission across the state.
