COVID Weekly Update: March 20, 2020

Greetings!

I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. Like many of you, our team is adjusting to a new normal and working remotely to help “flatten the curve.” It’s the least we can do to help protect the health of each other, our families, and our communities. 

Since we closed the Upstate Forever offices last week, our team has been innovating and adapting. We’re embracing video calls, online chats, and many, many emails because the work must go on — and indeed it has. But we’ll get to some recent accomplishments and updates in a moment.

First, I just want to say thank you.

It is because of your support that we are able to protect green space and water quality in the Upstate as our region grows. This critical and time-sensitive work must continue even during the current health crisis. When you support local conservation efforts, you support the farms, parks, forests, and waterways that sustain our entire community. You are part of the solution, and we appreciate you.

Now a few exciting updates from this week: 

• I am pleased to announce that our land trust has renewed its accreditation with the national Land Trust Alliance! In 2008, Upstate Forever became the first land trust in South Carolina to achieve this esteemed distinction and we are proud to have earned it once again. Learn more
   
• We are partnering with conservation organizations from across the state to bring you Conversations with Conservationists. This weekly webinar series coordinated by our partners in the South Carolina Conservation Coalition will give you the opportunity to learn more — from the social distancing-friendly comfort of your home — about offshore drilling, land protection, advocacy, the State Water Plan, and other conservation issues in SC. More details
   
• Lastly, some great news from our Clean Water team: We have been awarded a grant from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to develop a watershed-based plan for Lake Greenwood. This grant will allow our mapping experts to identify strategic opportunities to protect and improve water quality in the area around Lake Greenwood. Read more about our water work

As we navigate these unprecedented times, we plan to share weekly updates via email so you can follow along with Upstate Forever’s progress. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to info@upstateforever.org or leave a message at (864) 250-0500 and we’ll respond as quickly as possible. 

Now, more than ever, we must continue our mission to protect the green spaces and special places that enrich our lives so much. 

Take care and be well, 

Andrea Cooper, Executive Director, Upstate Forever