Who We Are
   &
What We Do

     Upstate Forever promotes sensible growth and the protection of special places in the Upstate region of South Carolina.  The membership-based, nonprofit organization covers nine counties (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union), and we have three main programs: Land Trust, Sustainable Communities, and Clean Air and Water.

Our Land Trust program works with landowners to protect significant properties and resources in the region, primarily through land protection agreements.  To date we have completed 54 such agreements, protecting nearly 10,222 acres of important land in the Upstate. 

Our Sustainable Communities program promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sound growth in the Upstate by supporting green development, parks and natural areas, active living initiatives, land use and infrastructure planning, and adaptive reuse and revitalization of existing communities.

Our Clean Air and Water program works to promote low impact development; improve stormwater and erosion control measures; buffer floodplains, greenways, and lakeshores; protect pristine streams and wild rivers; improve air quality in the region; and raise awareness about climate change.  Its water quality efforts are organized geographically, focused on mountain streams, urban rivers, rural waters, and statewide water resources.

Across all three programs, we work to educate the public, developers, and policy makers about land use, conservation, and growth management issues in the Upstate.  We publish a semi-annual newsletter, the Upstate Advocate; a monthly bulletin, the Upstate Update, and a weekly Legislative Update during the South Carolina legislative session.  We also maintain this website; sponsor conferences, lectures, and workshops; take numerous field trips; and speak to many different groups and organizations throughout the region.

Founded in 1998, we now have over 3,300members, a staff of 20 (full- and part-time), and two offices — our main office in Greenville, and an office in Spartanburg (click for more information about Upstate Forever Spartanburg).

For more information, please call 864.250.0500 or e-mail us at info@upstateforever.org.