Forest Protection and Education in Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville, South Carolina

The Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Sanctuary is a majestic old-growth swamp forest located within South Carolina’s sprawling 45,000 acre Four Holes Swamp. This 15,000 acre region was preserved because it is one of only two old-growth swamp forests remaining in the state. It is home to some of the oldest bald cypress and tupelo gum trees in the entire nation, including one believed to be 1,500 years old.

Because the Beidler Forest has such a rich history in the region, it was a prime choice for focusing conservation efforts. The sanctuary and accompanying nature center are operated by the National Audubon Society, whose mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. And true to this mission, the Beidler Forest Sanctuary was selected for preservation due to its diverse population of rare and endangered wildlife species, such as the swallow-tailed kite insect and the prothonotary warbler, a yellow-hued songbird.

The Beidler Forest Audubon Center hosts several educational activities that contribute to the preservation and thriving of the plant life and animal life that exist in the area. One prominent citizen science project being done involves engaging local naturists and other volunteers in the restoration of bird nesting habitats that have disappeared due to logging. This effort is also known as Project Protho, a name that comes from one key species it seeks to protect—the prothonotary warbler. This is one of the rare species of birds whose population has halved in the last forty years, but still inhabit the area. The Beidler Forest Sanctuary supports one of the highest densities of this species in the southern United States.

Project Protho is a conservation action project funded through Audubon’s TogetherGreen Program. TogetherGreen is a five-year initiative supported through a $20 million grant from Toyota, the largest grant in Audubon’s history. In the spring of 2008, Audubon and Toyota launched TogetherGreen to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer and individual action opportunities that significantly benefit the environment.

For more information, visit the National Audubon Society’s Beidler Forest webpage and the TogetherGreen webpage.