Mullikin presents a “path forward” for South Carolina
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, addressed the S.C. Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental Affairs Committee at the Palmetto Club in downtown Columbia, June 6, wherein he discussed a path forward for the Palmetto State as regards the intersection of science, law, and existing environmental policy.
Coming on the heels of his agency’s leadership in the recent development of a strategic plan aimed at conserving and protecting 10,000,000 acres across South Carolina by the end of 2026, Mullikin detailed for the Chamber committee the myriad evolving natural resources challenges facing South Carolina from coastal resiliency and water management to land conservation all the while protecting and enhancing the state’s longtime sporting culture — hunting, fishing, boating and all of their associated industries — as well as tourism and other revenue generating industries that rely on the Palmetto State’s natural resources.
Mullikin emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in navigating all issues and protecting all interests with S.C. and with it’s citizens’ best interests at heart. He explained why there must and will be a set path forward integrating all stakeholders with the best available science and all within the necessary legal framework.
“South Carolina is uniquely positioned to lead in terms of conservation of our natural resources,” Mullikin said. “But doing so requires a unified effort from policymakers, scientists, industry, and citizens alike.”
Mullikin added: “At the S. C. Department of Natural Resources we will meet the constitutional mandate to protect and conserve our natural resources. South Carolina is one of the few states in the nation that mandates that the ‘health, welfare, and safety of the lives and property of the people of this State and the conservation of its natural resources are matters of public concern.’ [S.C. Constitution Article XII, Section 1]. Furthermore, the ‘traditions of hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the state’s heritage, important for conservation, and a protected means of managing nonthreatened wildlife.’ [S.C. Constitution Article I, Section 25].”
In his remarks, Mullikin reinforced the state’s commitment to conservation as a strategic priority—protecting natural resources not only for ecological health, but for economic vitality and community resilience: His address underscoring the increasing need to balance responsible development with the preservation of South Carolina’s rich natural heritage.
According to Mullikin, partnerships and proactive planning are key if South Carolina is to continue to become a model for sustainable progress where conservation and economic growth are inextricably connected. “South Carolina has demonstrated – and taken a position of global leadership – in dispelling the narrative that you must choose between environmental and economic sustainability. We are reducing our impacts on natural resources while our economic is booming,” he said.
– For additional information about the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, please visit https://www.dnr.sc.gov/.