Beaufort County is a beautiful and unique place. It is attractive to so many people, partly because of the quality of life we are able to enjoy here and even more so because of its natural beauty.

People come from near and far to explore our lush saltwater marshes and admire the old, majestic oak trees. As residents of the Lowcountry, preserving and protecting our natural resources should be a top priority.

To date, the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program has preserved roughly 21,000 acres in our county. This is a significant accomplishment that we all should be proud of. And something we should all encourage more of in the future.

Voting "yes" for the Rural and Critical Lands Program referendum is a vote for investing in the future of our county and the beautiful quality of life that we are all so lucky to enjoy.

Tabor Vaux

Bluffton