SC Office of Resilience, Francis Marion University, Open Space Institute, Florence County and Many Others Announce Unique Effort to Secure 8,500 Acres

The Open Space Institute (OSI), together with Florence County, Francis Marion University (FMU), the South Carolina Office of Resilience, South Carolina Conservation Bank, Darla Moore Foundation, and a coalition of additional government and local partners, have announced the formation of a partnership to secure nearly 8,500 acres for conservation in Florence County. Florence County Council voted on October 16, 2025, to commit $1.55 million to advance the project.

Through this landmark land protection effort, the partners aim to protect two properties stretching a collective eight miles along the Great Pee Dee River. Among other conservation outcomes, the initiative will support FMU’s forestry and environmental sciences programs.

OSI plans to acquire the 8,460-acre “Duck Ponds” properties from clients of Manulife Investment Management, one of the world’s leading natural capital investment managers, Manulife, by the end of 2025. OSI will hold the properties until they can be transferred to FMU. State approval from the Joint Bond Review Committee and State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA) is still required.

FMU will use the properties for institutional purposes primarily related to its forestry and environmental sciences programs. The properties will also be used to provide access to the unique natural resources of the Great Pee Dee River corridor.

Once completed, the project will expand opportunities for students in FMU’s forestry and environmental sciences programs, support educational efforts, safeguard vital wildlife habitat, provide critical flood protection, and safeguard clean drinking water for local communities.

Many of the same partners convened last year to the secure the 7,600 acre Snow’s Island Assemblage and in 2023 to create a nearly 500-acre county park with the Pee Dee Land Trust.

The acquisition of this additional land will increase the size of the FMU campus to 9,284 acres, making it the second largest campus in the state of South Carolina.