The trail travels across a new addition to the State Park, a 160-acre property purchased by Friends of Paris Mountain State Park in 2015 and protected through a conservation easement by Upstate Forever in 2018.

Sassafras Trail is rated moderate and crosses multiple creeks and terrains. and this park expansion and added trail come at a time when more people than ever before treasure and seek outdoor space for recreation in Upstate SC.

In a unanimous vote at last week's meeting, Greenville County Council approved a new Agricultural Preservation Zoning District — providing citizens an important and voluntary tool for preserving the county's remaining farmlands. Click here for more details and contact info to thank Council for supporting this policy!

A symbiotic relationship with nature is a cornerstone of many Native American cultures, including the Cherokee. We honor the Cherokee tradition of land stewardship and those that continue to protect, conserve, and enhance our region's natural resources. Read more

This month, Piedmont Natural Gas (PNG) announced one of 3 proposed routes was selected for a natural gas pipeline project in Greenville Co. The selected route would run alongside Hwy 290 from Taylors to Travelers Rest. We continue to have concerns about the selected route and lack of demonstrated need for the project. Here's why

Earlier this month, the Upstate Forever team gathered for our annual staff retreat. We spent a day reflecting on this year’s conservation successes, progress toward our goals to protect the Upstate's special places, and plans for 2022 and beyond.

At our Board meeting and happy hour last week, we recognized members of Upstate Forever’s Board of Directors whose terms have come to an end: Charles Dalton, Marianna Habisreutinger, Joe Lesesne, and Charlie Mickel who were unable to join us in person, and pictured here with Executive Director Andrea Cooper, Pam Vaughn and Mark Taylor.

Each of these individuals has provided invaluable insight and guidance to our organization in recent years — or in the case of Mark Taylor, who joined UF’s Board when it was founded in 1998, decades! Noteworthy tenures also include Joe Lesesne, who joined in 2004, and Marianna Habisreutinger, who joined in 2005.

Thank you all for your dedication to protecting the lands, waters, and character of Upstate SC, and please join us in welcoming two new members of UF's Board, John Bauknight and Evan Cramer!

Share the love this holiday season

We are honored to have been selected as the local beneficiary of the Fairway Subaru Share the Love campaign. From now through January 3, for those that purchase, lease, or order a new Subaru from Fairway and select Upstate Forever, we'll receive a $300 donation!

Removal of the Tugalo dam would restore the free-flowing condition of the Chattooga River. Help by submitting comments by Friday, 11/26 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding Georgia Power’s application to “modernize” the Tugalo facility. Act now

Our team is growing in the New Year, and we are looking to fill several integral roles:

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest member of the Upstate Forever team, Energy Advocate Michael Coleman! With experience ranging from political campaigns to the financial sector, Michael has used his in-depth knowledge to provide corporate leaders with advisement regarding legislation and elections. He also has experience in facilitating communication with government agencies around the country. He's excited to apply his experience to help Upstate Forever advance its Energy program!

Stay tuned for tickets and more information about our annual awards luncheon that celebrates individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in fields related to conservation. The 2022 luncheon on Monday, Feb.14 at the Embassy Suites on Verdae Boulevard (Greenville) will include a celebration of this year's awardees, in addition to a special recognition of the 2021 award recipients.

From sidewalks to recycling, traffic to public parks and more, you likely feel the impacts of local government each and every day — and you probably want to gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of how local policy makers impact your community. The NonProfit Alliance has partnered with Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy on the new podcast Simple Civics: Greenville County. New episodes will launch each week on topics like how Greenville County government works and why local redistricting is important. Learn more and listen here

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.