The Land Trust holds its annual spring gathering on April 18
Last fall, the Lowcountry Land Trust tapped Matt Williams as its new president and CEO. No stranger to conservation work, Williams shifted over from The Nature Conservancy’s South Carolina chapter, where he served as associate director of philanthropy and played a key role in securing funding for land protection projects like the acquisition of Chelsea Plantation in Ridgeland. His ties to the land and the Lowcountry run deep, and his past roles leading The International Conservation Caucus Foundation and The Explorers Club—the New York-based organization supporting global scientific exploration—bode well for the future of conservation here, as Lowcountry Land Trust gains more and more traction. Here, Williams shares what motivates him.
CM: The Lowcountry Land Trust has built momentum in the past few years. How is that energizing your vision going forward?
MW: We closed on 19 projects in 2025, totaling more than 2,000 acres, which includes large tracts of land that benefit wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and smaller projects protecting green space for communities around the Lowcountry. Over 1,000 of the acres protected in 2025 will be open to the public and offer access to beautiful spaces that make the Lowcountry special. It was an incredibly impactful year, and it inspires and excites our team for the work ahead.
CM: What’s the biggest challenge for conservation in SC right now?
MW: South Carolina loses 200 acres of forests every day to development. We are the fastest growing state, which means our challenge is keeping up with this pace by protecting places that provide a great ROI on habitat, biodiversity, water quality, resilience, and connectivity to other protected lands, and all the while, connecting people to the importance of conservation. We need nature not only to survive, but to thrive and be happy, so people can thrive, too.
CM: So what brought you to conservation work initially, and what fills your bucket on hard days?
MW: I grew up at an old duck hunting club on the Santee Delta. My dad is a biologist, and every day that I was in the field with him, I was learning about wildlife, habitats, and conservation. These teaching moments inspire me to this day. On hard days, I remember the feeling I get when I’m in the field or when someone gets excited about conservation for the first time. I love seeing ducks fly and those few seconds when I know a fish is on my line and I’m about to set the hook—those moments when time stands still, and I’m reminded how incredible natural places are.
CM: Is there one protected spot that particularly resonates with you?
MW: I love the longleaf forests of Brosnan Forest in Dorchester County, where the Land Trust holds a conservation easement. I also have a deep spiritual connection to the Santee Delta, Sandy Island Preserve in Georgetown County, and the newly opened Coosawhatchie Wildlife Management Area near Yemassee. Some of my favorite career memories are from taking folks there and walking from the pine forest down the ridge to the Coosawhatchie River bottom. Let’s go sometime!
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Lives: Avondale
Education: Bachelor of arts in journalism from University of South Carolina
Family: Partner, Chrissie, children, Lovett (12) and Maddie (9), and dog, Bowie
Go: Lowcountry Land Trust hosts its annual Spring Gathering on April 18
