‘Common Ground’ Documentary Premiers at Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, SC February 18-20

ACE Basin History Documentary: Taking the Show on the Road

February 6th, 2011

Land conservation in the Lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina has been documented in Common Ground: The Story of the ACE Basin, an hour-long video history of the preservation of an extraordinary ecosystem between Charleston and Savannah. The core area of 350,000 acres takes its name from the three rivers—the Ashepoo, the Combahee, and the Edisto—that run through the region, nourishing life and shaping the landscape. Here, more than 206,000 acres of public and private land have been preserved in perpetuity by conservation easements effected by state and federal agencies (National Fish and Wildlife Service, National Estuarine Research Reserve at Bennett’s Point, The Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Bear Island Wildlife Management Area), energetic NGO’s (ACE Basin Project History, Ducks Unlimited , Nature Conservancy) and by a vast number of private landowners. These groups have formed a unique partnership dedicated to preserving the land as an intact, healthy ecosystem where the traditions of fishing, hunting, farming, and forestry are maintained. The area is likewise a haven for scientists and amateur naturalists who study the abundant life in the air and water.

The documentary recounts the region’s history of large plantations, a source of great wealth; the demise of the plantation system following the Civil War; and the threats to the land brought about by coastal sprawl after World War II. How these threats were met lies at the core of the story, and is told through interviews with the leaders of the ACE Basin Project and glorious scenes of natural beauty. Dr. William Bailey, executive producer, has announced that Common Ground will make its formal premier at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston on February 18-20, 2011. Eventually the film will be available to the public as part of the Center’s work in promoting healthy ecosystems.

For more information on this project please visit our CHN Regional Cultures of Conservation project page: ACE Basin History Documentary: Taking the Show on the Road.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 6th, 2011 at 11:00 am and is filed under Land Ethic, South Carolina, civic engagement, environmental ethics, ethics, property rights, sustainability. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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