Protecting Land & Water | Advocacy | Balanced Growth
We are thankful for your support this year

As this unpredictable year draws to a close, we are reflecting on all of 2020's successes. Thanks to your support, this year Upstate Forever has:

  • Permanently protected more than 2,000 acres through conservation easements and partnerships with fellow conservation organizations
  • Received a grant from SCDHEC to develop a plan to protect and improve water quality in Lake Greenwood
  • Collaborated with fellow clean energy advocates and Duke Energy to propose a solar net metering structure that sets a national precedent
  • Held Kinder Morgan accountable for the 2014 spill of more than 300,000 gallons of gasoline in Belton and established a $1.5 million fund to protect and remediate water resources in Anderson County
  • Engaged in advocacy and planning processes in 7 local jurisdictions and enrolled 60 residents in our Citizens Planning Academies, all with the goal of reducing sprawl
  • Plus many more success stories!

If you have given this year, we thank you. Your additional gift will go directly toward protecting critical lands and saving special places. If you have not yet given this year, please consider a tax-deductible gift in support of conservation in the Upstate!
Give a gift, receive a gift this holiday season
Donate $35 or more by December 31 and receive an exclusive set of six notecards featuring prints from six local artists inspired by the Upstate's natural beauty (while supplies last). Visit upstateforever.org/donate or click the button above to make a gift today.
More ways to support Upstate Forever this year
Did you know you can support UF while shopping through Amazon this holiday season — at no extra cost to you? When you do your online shopping through AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products. Be sure to use Smile.Amazon.com each time you shop in your web browser or turn AmazonSmile on in your mobile app, and select Upstate Forever as the organization you wish to support.

When you make a planned gift to UF, you help us achieve our goals for current and future generations while enjoying a wide variety of tax benefits. Visit our planned giving site at upstateforever.giftlegacy.com to learn about bequests, IRA rollovers, charitable lead trusts, and other ways to give.
$100,000 for Oconee conservation
The Pete and Sally Smith Foundation has awarded Upstate Forever a $100,000 grant to work with landowners in Oconee County to protect land that contributes to water quality, habitat, agriculture, and recreation. Grant funds will also be used to strengthen our stewardship program and assist landowners with conservation easement costs.
UF opposes PNG pipeline project
This week we announced Upstate Forever's opposition to a natural gas transmission pipeline proposed for northern Greenville County by Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG) which would run from Taylors to Travelers Rest. We have thoroughly examined PNG’s stated reasoning for the project, and find it inadequate for the size, impact and cost to ratepayers. Read more
What's going on with land use planning and policy in Greenville?

There's a lot happening in Greenville City and County right now. Here's what you need to know about...

The City of Greenville's tree ordinance update
This Tuesday, December 1 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm, the City of Greenville will host a virtual public meeting (click here to register) to present and answer questions on the proposed changes to improve the city's tree ordinance. The public is invited to submit questions ahead of time here by Monday, November 30. The current draft of the proposed tree ordinance and other pertinent resources are available here. We encourage you to read and share our recent interview with Joelle Teachey, Executive Director of TreesUpstate, about the tree ordinance update.

GVL2040, the City's draft comprehensive plan
Upstate Forever was proud to be a part of Impact Greenville's virtual public events this past week highlighting GVL2040, the City of Greenville's draft comprehensive plan. To stay current on GVL2040's progress toward adoption, plan now to attend the Joint City Council & Planning Commission virtual workshop on Tuesday, December 15, at 4:00 pm, and mark your calendars for the key dates below:
  • Tuesday, January 5, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - Planning Commission Workshop
  • Tuesday, January 12 @ 4:00 pm - Special Called Meeting Planning Commission
  • Monday, January 25 @ 5:30 pm - City Council Public Hearing
  • Monday, February 8 @ 5:30 pm - City Council First Reading
  • Monday, February 22 @ 5:30 pm - City Council Second Reading

The County's Unified Development Ordinance
Greenville County is currently in the process of drafting a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to replace existing zoning and land development regulations. A key goal of the UDO is to implement the county's widely supported comprehensive plan. Learn more about the process and review materials from a recent presentation to Council here and our priorities for the UDO here.

Greenville County Historic & Natural Resources Trust
Lastly, some very good news: On Tuesday evening, Greenville County Council’s Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to move an ordinance to establish the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust (HNRT) to second reading.

Please join us in showing our appreciation to Greenville County Council by thanking them for supporting the protection of the quality of life and wellbeing of Greenville County. You can find contact information for each Council member here. Not sure who represents you? Enter your address here to find out. If you'd like to receive dedicated email updates about the HNRT, please click here.
Protected properties for sale
Are you interested in owning a property that has a conservation easement with Upstate Forever? Visit our website at upstateforever.org/listings to view properties that are currently for sale, like the 20-acre tract pictured above. For more information about a particular property, please contact the listing agent directly.
The Upstate Advocate is here
The latest issue of our twice yearly print newsletter has arrived! In this issue, you'll find recent news and updates from UF, of course, as well as the works and words of several local artists inspired by the Upstate's natural beauty, a conversation between authors John Lane and Drew Lanham, and more. Click here to view a digital copy.
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Your tax-deductible gift to Upstate Forever will go directly toward protecting critical lands and saving special places in the Upstate.
Click the icons below to learn more about our work
Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina.  Over the past two decades, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special — our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and clean air. We are committed to ensuring that our communities are vibrant and retain their green spaces, outdoor heritage, and unique identities in the face of rapid development and significant sprawl. Our vision is an environmentally healthy, economically prosperous Upstate that offers a high quality of life now and for future generations.

For more information, visit our website at upstateforever.org or send us an email.