Dana Leavitt Named
Land Conservationist Of The Year

     We are delighted that Dana Leavitt, our Land Trust Director, was recently recognized by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation as the State’s Land Conservationist of the Year. He received the award in January at the Federation’s Annual Meeting in Columbia.

No one knows and cares more about the land than Dana. For over 20 years, he has been one of South Carolina’s leading conservationists. Born and raised in Virgina, Dana came to our area in the early 1980s
to attend Clemson University and fortunately for us, he has never left. While at Clemson, he found a special place on Three and Twenty Creek in Anderson County. This farm, a former rice plantation,
has now been transformed by Dana and his partners into one of the premier natural waterfowl management sites in South Carolina. Over 15 years ago, a conservation easement was placed on the property with Ducks Unlimited, one of the first easements granted in the Upstate.

When Friends of the Reedy River was organized in the early 1990s, Dana was one of the first to become engaged and devoted to the rehabilitation of the river. With a keen eye for unique habitats, he “rediscovered” Lake Conestee, just a few miles below Greenville. He was able to recruit other conservation-minded individuals to create The Conestee Foundation in 1995 and served as its President until recently. Under Dana’s leadership, the Foundation has made remarkable progress toward its goal of making the lake the centerpiece of a new park devoted to passive uses and environmental education.

Dana joined Upstate Forever as our first Land Trust Director in 2001. He has done an outstanding job in assembling an amazing portfolio of 18 easements protecting over 4,000 acres in the Upstate, with many more in the works. Dana spends much of his time meeting with landowners, explaining how easements work, and answering their questions. He has instant credibility not only because of his warm personality but also because he practices what he preaches by having placed an easement on his own property.

Congratulations, Dana – we are proud of you!