Great news regarding maritime forest management by the Town of Sullivan’s Island. There are a few different maritime forest projects that are being funded under the Fiscal Year 2027 Preservation Program related to habitat restoration. The key project will be a large 1.5 acre patch of popcorn tree (Chinese Tallow) removal. Once removed, willow live stakes will be planted to keep the popcorn trees from re-emerging.
Other projects include the removal of Elaeagnus from the Station 24 access path, trail camera replacement, and volunteer workdays around the island as projects emerge.
The Director of Resilience & Natural Resource Management Rebecca Fanning told Town Council that she is in touch with the local Sustainability Institute, a local nonprofit that does incredible work in the Charleston Region with the help of Americorps volunteers. They may soon get involved with the invasive species removal project, and we are working out a timeline that makes sense for their curriculum. The newly rejuvenated Youth Council may get involved as part of a community service project. Additionally, Fanning has invited the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Katie Biggert who is head of the Invasive Species Removal Program to tour the maritime forest and check out some of the invasive species populations the Town is working on.
The volunteer work is expected to begin once the weather cools this fall. Contractors will also be involved with the invasive species removal project. The goal is to give the willows a chance to regain their footing in the forest.
Another project will involve the replacement of cameras and the installation of new cameras in the forest, to prevent illegal cutting and to protect people and wildlife.
