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Drone Rules for Francis Marion National Forest
Berkeley County, South Carolina (SC)
• United States
Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina 29453, USA
Lat: 33.1668 • Lng: -79.6665
Rules Edit History: Francis Marion National Forest
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Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 5:27 AM
Approved
• Added USFS drone advisory for Francis Marion NF with red-cockaded woodpecker ESA Section 7 cavity-tree buffer context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations in Francis Marion National Forest has been approved. This aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's policy that prohibits drone operations near active red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees to protect this endangered species. The added context about the forest's significance to resident and migratory birds enhances the understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | — | USFS Francis Marion NF has no Wilderness designation but is critical red-cockaded woodpecker (endangered) recovery habitat. Drone activity near cavity trees triggers disturbance protocols. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 86ceb73e-ab8c-4c34-a875-c9c5bc80fd73 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Francis Marion NF, South Carolina **No Wilderness prohibition**, but ESA Section 7 protections for red-cockaded woodpeckers restrict UAS near active cavity clusters. ### Airspace / Site Context - The forest holds one of the largest red-cockaded woodpecker populations in the Southeast; ~500 active clusters - Cavity trees are marked with white paint bands; USFS policy requires no activity within 200 ft of marked trees - Charleston International (CHS) Class C airspace southern boundary is ~25 NM south; forest interior is Class G/E ### Key Rules - Avoid flying within 200 ft of white-banded longleaf pines at all times - April-July breeding season: increase buffer to 600 ft around active clusters - USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial filming or research flights ### Source - USFS Francis Marion: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnfs - USFWS RCW Recovery: https://www.fws.gov
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+ ## Drone Rules - Francis Marion NF, South Carolina + + **No Wilderness prohibition**, but ESA Section 7 protections for red-cockaded woodpeckers restrict UAS near active cavity clusters. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - The forest holds one of the largest red-cockaded woodpecker populations in the Southeast; ~500 active clusters + - Cavity trees are marked with white paint bands; USFS policy requires no activity within 200 ft of marked trees + - Charleston International (CHS) Class C airspace southern boundary is ~25 NM south; forest interior is Class G/E + + ### Key Rules + - Avoid flying within 200 ft of white-banded longleaf pines at all times + - April-July breeding season: increase buffer to 600 ft around active clusters + - USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial filming or research flights + + ### Source + - USFS Francis Marion: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnfs + - USFWS RCW Recovery: https://www.fws.gov +