The Clarendon Farms conservation deal permanently protects nearly 4,400 acres of South Carolina land from development, after Cox Enterprises and the Cox family donated the property’s development rights.

Key Takeaways

  • The agreement was announced in March 2026 and covers wetlands, forests, islands and coastal frontage in Beaufort County.
  • The land remains privately owned, while Ducks Unlimited and Wetlands America Trust will steward the easement.

What the Clarendon Farms conservation deal covers

The donated conservation easement restricts development without requiring the family to transfer ownership of the property. The surrendered development rights were estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, though no precise figure was publicly disclosed.

The property includes historic rice fields, forested wetlands, ponds, nine islands and nearly 1,300 acres of upland forest. It also has more than 40 miles of river and marsh frontage.

Wildlife habitat and water storage

Clarendon Farms lies in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a coastal region of tidal marshes and rivers. Its habitats support waterfowl including wood ducks, mallards and blue-winged teal, as well as animals such as deer, wild turkeys and quail.

The wetlands help filter water and store floodwaters. By restricting development across the property, the easement also helps maintain connections between habitats along the Atlantic coast.

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