Doug Harper to receive the Tommy Wyche Land Conservation Champion award

Doug Harper is being honored with the Tommy Wyche Land Conservation Champion award at the 2019 ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon. The award recognizes Doug for his central role in the permanent reauthorization of the SC Conservation Bank.

The longtime leader of Harper Corp. General Contractors, Doug has built a successful career on construction and yet maintains a deep and abiding interest in conservation.
 
In 2018, as chairman of the SC Conservation Bank Board, Doug spearheaded an effort to achieve reauthorization of the Conservation Bank, an invaluable tool that aims to improve the quality of life in South Carolina through the conservation of significant natural resource lands, wetlands, historical properties, archeological sites, and urban parks. Many significant Upstate properties have been protected through the Bank, including tracts at  the Blue Wall,  Nine Times, and the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail.
 
The Bank was scheduled to “sunset” in June of 2018, meaning it would have disappeared as a funding mechanism. Doug worked tirelessly during the 2018 Legislative session to ensure reauthorization of  the Bank. He met countless times with legislators and the conservation community while instituting  processes at the CB that will insure transparency and accountability, a key Legislative concern.
 
In May, after an absolutely incredible collaborative effort by conservation organizations, individuals and legislators statewide, the Bank finally became a permanent agency when Governor McMaster signed Act 200 into law. Doug continues to serve as  the board chair, overseeing continued improvements in the Bank’s processes and operations.

Named after visionary conservationist Tommy Wyche, this award recognizes a business, organization or individual who has made a significant contribution to the protection of farmlands, forest lands, natural areas and other special places in the Upstate. 

Tickets are on sale now for the luncheon, which will take place Feb. 19, 2019 at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. You can read about the other award recipients at our blog. For more information about this event, please contact Murray Dorn at murray@smoakpr.com.