Regional conservation organization Upstate Forever announces the protection of 300 acres in northern Greenville County in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT).
The property, which is owned by SCPRT and known as the White Tract, significantly expands protected acreage in the Blue Ridge Escarpment area near Jones Gap State Park, Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, and other protected lands owned by SCPRT, Naturaland Trust, and The Nature Conservancy. A conservation easement held by Upstate Forever ensures this 300-acre property remains protected in perpetuity.
“We are honored to help protect and steward this scenic land in northern Greenville and are grateful to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism for entrusting the protection of its important natural resources to our land trust,” said Scott Park, Glenn Hilliard Director of Land Conservation for Upstate Forever. Although not currently open to the public for outdoor recreation, future public access is planned to help meet growing demand for natural areas and expanded park access along the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
“The protection of the White Tract property is coming at a time when outdoor space has never been more treasured, and outdoor recreation demand is at an all-time high,” said SCPRT Director, Duane Parrish. “We are grateful to Upstate Forever for their partnership on this effort, and we look forward to welcoming visitors when public access is available. Our Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area offers some of South Carolina’s best hiking and most scenic mountain views, and protecting the White Tract property ensures the land will be available for generations of South Carolinians to enjoy.”
In addition to serving as future park lands, the protection of the White Tract will contribute to the conservation of water resources and habitat for plants and wildlife. The property contains the headwaters of the Middle Saluda River with critical waters for reproducing trout populations. It is entirely forested with pine and hardwood canopy with an understory of rhododendron, mountain laurel, silverbell, and American holly.
Since its inception in 1998, Upstate Forever’s nationally accredited land trust has permanently protected nearly 28,000 acres through voluntary conservation easements in partnership with landowners and other conservation organizations across the ten Upstate South Carolina counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.
Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of the Upstate of South Carolina. We focus our work on the ten counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union. Since 1998, we have worked to protect the natural assets that make the Upstate so special: our farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, and mountains. 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 has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg. For more information, visit www.upstateforever.org.
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