News & Media

Local conservation group Upstate Forever, who has operated Greenville B-cycle since March 2013, will give up the reins as program operator later this year. The City of Greenville has committed to taking over the local bike-share program. read more

The Land Trust Alliance’s land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. In 2008, Upstate Forever became the first land trust organization in South Carolina to receive national accreditation. Upstate Forever is pleased to announce it is now applying for renewal of accreditation. read more

Jones Gap State Park has become approximately 25 percent larger following a donation of 955 acres to the SC Department of Parks, Recreations & Tourism from The Nature Conservancy. The property, known as Gap Creek, is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement held by Upstate Forever. read more

A 56-acre property in Travelers Rest once slated for subdivision development has been acquired by the SC DNR Heritage Trust and added to the adjacent Blackwell Heritage Preserve. Upstate Forever and other partners opposed the development, called Bluestone Ridge, because it would have seriously threatened the Heritage Preserve and the survival of the bunched arrowhead, an extremely rare plant only found in two counties: Hendersonville, NC and Greenville, SC. read more

Many thanks to Mark Taylor for serving as Upstate Forever’s Board Chair for the past two years. Mark is the president of SynTerra and has been involved with Upstate Forever since it was formed in 1998. Along with Brad Wyche, Mark has also co-chaired the Crossroads Campaign Steering Committee for the past year, and has been integral to its success. He will remain on the board but has passed the reins to our new chair, Joe Lesesne. read more

John Keith, Emelyn Jones, Gaye Sprague, and Neal Workman are the newest members of Upstate Forever's board of directors. read more

Is your roof all wrong for solar panels? Or do you live in an apartment or have an HOA that doesn't allow panels? We are excited to spread the word about Duke Energy Carolina's new Shared Solar Program in the Upstate. Duke customers, including non-profits, can invest in off-site solar facilities and then see the benefits on their bill each month. read more

Upstate Forever's Land Trust closed several significant conservation easements towards the end of 2018, bringing our total protected land to 21,949.7 acres across the Upstate. Included in these new easements are two permanently protected properties will be added to expand Paris Mountain State Park, thanks to generous support from Michelin in the form of an Environmental Stewardship Grant. Other protected lands include Oconee Town, 55 Camperdown in Falls Park, Altamont Fields, and Hartwell Headwaters. read more