Southern Conservation Corp. is a non-profit land trust focused on the protection and restoration of native wildlife habitat in the southeastern United States. SCC stepped in at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to complete a land transfer with the owner of Adam's Cave in Madison County, Kentucky. Adams Cave is the only known habitat for the greater Adam's Cave beetle (Pseudanopthalmus pholeter) and lesser Adam's Cave beetle (Pseudanopthalmus cataryctos), both of which were, at the time, formal candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Subsequent to securing ownership of this unique cave system, SCC worked with the USFWS to develop a candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the property and an enhancement of survival permit to support the CCAA. The provisions of the CCAA and permit were designed to ensure that (a) the area surrounding Adam's Cave is not developed, (b) access into Adams Cave is controlled, and (c) the populations of the cave beetles are monitored. These actions removed the primary threats to the cave beetles on the property and precluded the need for the USFWS to list either of these species under the Endangered Species Act.
To recognize their invaluable partnership with the USFWS, USFWS Southeast Regional Director, Sam D. Hamilton, presented SCC with a 2004 Regional Director's Conservation Award at a ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia.
On Wednesday April 16, 2008, former SCC Executive Director Dr. Charlie Fox was made an Honorary Kentucky Colonel on the behalf of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. Mr. Don Dott, Director of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC), presented the award. In Director Dott’s presentation to Dr. Fox (see accompanying photo), Director Dott recognized and highlighted SCC’s commitment to partner with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on (1) the Licking River Recovery Land Acquisition project, which improved the conservation status of the endangered Short’s goldenrod and several federally listed mussels in the Licking River, (2) the Blue Licks Short’s Goldenrod Recovery Land Acquisition where SCC provided the majority of the matching funds that allowed KSNPC and the Kentucky Division of Parks to acquire a 570-acre tract for Short’s goldenrod conservation that will be added to Blue Licks State Resort Park, and (3) the Adam's Cave project, which helped protect a critical cave environment that included two state-listed cave beetles.
The Kentucky Colonel is the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state, or the nation. Other Kentucky Colonels include a variety of outstanding men and women around the world, including Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan and English Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
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