Cox Enterprises places permanent conservation easement on 4,400 South Carolina acres

Cox Enterprises, which has owned Clarendon Farms for decades, relinquished its rights to subdivide or develop the nearly 4,400-acre low-country estate in South Carolina, creating one of the nation’s largest private conservation easements. Valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, the easement was announced by Ducks Unlimited and restricts residential, commercial and industrial construction while permitting sustainable timber harvest and hunting leases.

The property’s diverse habitats—mature hardwood forests, pine stands, extensive freshwater marshes and 40 miles of river and marsh frontage—provide critical spawning grounds for fish and foraging areas for waterfowl along the Atlantic Flyway. Protecting these ecosystems also helps filter sediments, improve water clarity and reduce flood peaks for nearby towns. Cultural sites linked to indigenous peoples and early European settlement are also covered. The move is being hailed as a model for large-scale private land conservation, showing that corporations can protect natural capital while retaining ownership.