Upstate Forever’s land trust attains fourth national accreditation; announces nearly 450 acres in new conservation easements

Local conservation nonprofit Upstate Forever recently announced two updates related to its land trust. First, the organization recently attained its fourth accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, which recognizes land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.

Secondly, Upstate Forever shared four newly finalized conservation easements:

• December Hill Farm – Anderson County
• Snow Hill Farm – Anderson and Oconee County
• Ninety Six Creek – Greenwood County
• Mountain Bridge Passage Amendment – Greenville County

Together, these properties comprise nearly 450 acres of working agricultural land, forest, wildlife habitat, and water resources.

Accreditation: meeting the highest national standards for land trusts

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, recently awarded Upstate Forever accreditation for the fourth time. Upstate Forever first achieved accreditation in 2008, becoming the first land trust in South Carolina to do so. Each accredited land trust completes a rigorous review process and joins a network of organizations united by strong ethical practices. Renewed accreditation means that Upstate Forever meets the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence, equipping the organization to protect our region’s special places for many generations to come.

Recently finalized conservation easements

Upstate Forever, private landowners, partners, and funders collaborated to place four Upstate properties under conservation easement. The newly protected properties safeguard farmland, wildlife habitat, and water resources in Anderson, Oconee, Greenwood, and Greenville Counties.

“We are so fortunate to serve a region with growing landowner awareness of how valuable protected land is to residents’ quality of life and to the Upstate’s unique ecosystem,” said Scott Park, Upstate Forever’s Glenn Hilliard Director of Land Conservation. “Grateful doesn’t begin to describe how we feel about thoughtful landowners who decide to permanently protect their land. Add to that the unwavering support of partners like the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the Upstate Land Conservation Fund, and SC Parks Recreation and Tourism, and we are able to conserve and protect even more of our precious region’s natural resources.”

December Hill Farm is a nearly 39-acre addition that joins approximately 906 acres of previously conserved property that straddles the line between Anderson and Oconee Counties. This newly conserved parcel fallson the Anderson side and provides additional rural scenic views for public enjoyment from Fred Dobbins Road. The agricultural and forested land is near other protected properties, including the Lake Hartwell Recreation Region. This addition was a full donation from the landowners.

Snow Hill Farm is a 311-acre property that straddles the Anderson and Oconee County line and supports agriculture, wildlife, and water quality. The property features more than 10,000 linear feet of riparian buffers along Cleveland Creek, Beaverdam Creek, and others — all flowing into Lake Hartwell less than a mile downstream. Its mixed hardwood forests and woody wetlands provide essential habitat for a variety of species in addition to sustaining ongoing forestry and agricultural uses. Surrounded by other conserved lands, Snow Hill Farm strengthens a growing corridor of protected working lands and natural habitats in the Upstate. This addition was a full donation from the landowners.

Ninety Six Creek is a 68-acre property nestled along the banks of its namesake creek in Greenwood County. The property provides vital habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. Managed for both conservation and hunting, the land features a mix of pine and hardwood timber and includes a greentree reservoir — mature hardwoods that are seasonally flooded to enhance habitat diversity. Surrounded by other conserved public and private lands, this property contributes to a growing network of protected landscapes in the region. Project funders include the South Carolina Conservation Bank and Upstate Land Conservation Fund.

“The protection of the Ninety Six Creek property is an example of a project that brings together wildlife habitat, timber management, and history,” said Raleigh West, Director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank. “Upland waterfowl habitat in this part of South Carolina is uncommon, and to be in such close proximity to the hallowed grounds of the Battle of Ninety Six makes this property even more significant. We’re honored to support the landowners in their decision to protect their family land forever.”

Mountain Bridge Passage Amendment is a 24-acre addition to a previously conserved property of 179 acres in Greenville County. The property sits in the South Saluda River valley and fronts South Carolina Scenic Highway 11. The north side of the property adjoins the state-owned Ashmore Heritage Preserve, home to several South Carolina species of concern, including the federally listed Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plant. The mix of mountain hardwood forests, rhododendron and hemlock riparian thickets, specimen beech and other hardwoods, open areas, rock outcrop habitat, two clear mountain streams, and a 5.3-acre clear-water recreational lake make it an ideal spot for visitors to see key types of natural habitat in the Upstate. The entire property has been transferred to SC Parks Recreation and Tourism. Mountain Bridge Passage Amendment was a full donation from the previous landowner, conservation nonprofit Naturaland Trust.

“Mountain Bridge Passage has been a gateway to the mountains for decades and we’re so happy to see it officially become part of South Carolina’s exceptional State Park system,” said Mac Stone, Executive Director of Naturaland Trust.

“The Mountain Bridge is a truly special place, and the acquisition of these new properties represents a significant step toward creating a centralized hub that will launch visitors on their journey of exploration,” said Joy Raintree, Director of the South Carolina State Park Service. “While there is still much work to be done to expand access, this marks an important milestone in our effort to unify Jones Gap and Caesars Head State Parks that make up the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. We are thankful to our partners at Upstate Forever and Naturaland Trust for their valiant conservation efforts.”

Upstate Forever protects land in partnership with landowners through conservation easements, which are voluntary contracts that allow the landowner to legally restrict certain land uses on their private property. Such restrictions may include limiting residential subdivisions, commercial development, or industrial operations, while allowing traditional rural land uses, such as farming, grazing, hunting, and timbering to continue. This agreement is permanent and remains with the land even after it has been sold or willed to heirs.

Since its founding in 1998, Upstate Forever has permanently protected more than 40,000 acres through conservation easements and partner efforts across the ten-county Upstate region of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union Counties and surrounding areas.