Protecting Our Unique Character
About Upstate Forever
Mission: Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina.
Vision: An environmentally healthy, economically prosperous Upstate that offers a high quality of life now and for future generations.
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.
Upstate Forever works with landowners, communities, and local stakeholders to balance growth with the protection of our natural resources. We focus our work on the ten counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.
Our primary goals are to:
- Protect land and water
- Foster a love of place
- Convey the importance of now
- Serve as a trusted community champion
History and successes
Founded in 1998 by Greenville attorney Brad Wyche, Upstate Forever now has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg and a staff of 25. We've spent the past 25 years forging relationships with business leaders and municipalities. Our reputation for common-sense solutions has earned us wide-spread respect across the Upstate region and beyond.
Upstate Forever's track record of success includes:
- Playing a key role in securing and opening of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, which has revolutionized Greenville and Travelers Rest
- Preventing a coal ash landfill in Pickens County and a mega-landfill in Spartanburg County
- Mobilizing public opposition to stop Duke Energy’s proposed substation and transmission line across the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Protecting nearly 28,000 acres on 140 properties across the Upstate through voluntary land easement as the first nationally accredited land trust organization in South Carolina
More success stories
Message from the Founder
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Financial Reports
Photo: Ed Land
What’s Happening
The Upstate Advocate
The latest edition of our twice-yearly publication explores the ways conservation and economic development in the Upstate can go hand-in-hand, in addition to sharing the latest news from our team.
Conservation success
With support from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and Upstate Land Conservation Fund, the six-acre property home to the historic Soapstone Baptist Church in Pickens County has been permanently protected through a conservation easement.
Saluda Grade Rail Trail
We are proud to be among several nonprofits working to transform the inactive Saluda Grade railroad corridor into an approximately 31-mile rail trail that would run from Inman, SC to Zirconia, NC.
Defend our water quality
As our region grows, it’s more important than ever to recognize the tremendous value of water — and to fight to protect it.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
To realize our vision of a future that is healthy, vibrant, and prosperous for the Upstate, we know it is vitally important and essential to our core values that we engage the diverse community we serve.
Giving Back
Your planned gift can help us achieve our goals for current and future generations, while you enjoy a wide variety of tax benefits.
Greenville
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