The "South Carolina Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act" aims to enhance the conservation of the state's natural resources by establishing a framework for land protection and coordination among various resource agencies. The bill recognizes the importance of conserving natural resources as a state interest and sets a long-term goal of increasing protected land to seven million acres by 2050, which would represent approximately one-third of the state's land area. It emphasizes the role of voluntary conservation easements and other legal mechanisms in protecting both privately and publicly held lands, while ensuring that private property rights are respected and not diminished.

To facilitate effective land protection, the bill mandates coordination among resource agencies before entering contracts for land protection projects. This includes quarterly meetings to discuss project compliance, evaluation of conservation strategies, and identification of funding sources. Additionally, the bill requires resource agencies to certify their budget requests for land protection projects and mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly on project acquisitions and funding sources. Overall, the act seeks to promote efficient use of public funds and improve conservation outcomes through collaborative efforts among state agencies.