Congaree Advisory Council Draws on Local Pride

Smithsonian educational exhibit hosted by Southeast Rural Community Outreach. SERCO photo.

People and organizations in the Congaree Biosphere Region (CBR) are rallying around a new Advisory Council. Located southeast of Columbia, South Carolina, the CBR broadly covers the lands and waters of the Cowasee Basin, the area where the Congaree and Wateree rivers join to form the Santee River, also known by the moniker “the Green Heart of South Carolina.”

On June 25, 2021, area citizens and organizations joined the first meeting of the new CBR Advisory Council. The Council is supported by an agreement between the Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO), the Central Midlands Council of Governments, and Congaree National Park. Consistent with the mission and values of the US Biosphere Network and World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the CBR believes that local community collaboration and open dialogue, built on knowledge and respect for the beauty and productivity of nature, can bring about innovative solutions for people and nature to thrive together sustainably.

Marie Adams, Board Chair for the Southeast Rural Community Outreach (SERCO), noted: “The CBR is rich with history, cultural heritage, and traditional practices closely linked to the outdoors, and this collaboration is an opportunity to build upon this existing foundation.” The mission of SERCO, a nongovernmental organization, is to create partnerships within the Lower Richland Community to provide charitable, educational and scientific programs to strengthen and expand the capacity of the community for a better quality of life for its residents.

“The goal is for visitors from all over the world to experience Congaree National Park not just as an isolated place, but as part of a vibrant landscape with abundant opportunities for recreation, heritage tourism, and local business,” said Superintendent K. Lynn Berry. “These partnerships also encourage the protection of local watersheds that nourish the park. As part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, this designation also positions us to share with and learn from similar efforts around the globe.”

“As a regional planning agency, the Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) strives to provide the highest quality planning services and technical assistance to the region,” said Ben Mauldin, Executive Director. “We are excited to foster this inclusive initiative that promotes sustainable economic development and responsible environmental stewardship.”

Partnerships with Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, local schools, SERCO, and other institutions will continue to support the roles of local knowledge, science and education in the CBR. The CBR credits the feedback and collaboration of dozens of stakeholders and partners for laying the Council’s foundation during outreach meetings in 2018 and 2019.The CBR plans to expand the Advisory Council’s voluntary membership and recruit an Executive Committee, establish a communications plan, and pursue funding opportunities that align with the CBR’s goals.

Contact Guillermo Espinosa: [e-mail]