GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Two Upstate South Carolina families have placed more than 250 acres under conservation easements through Upstate Forever, permanently restricting development on land that has been in their families for generations. The announcement is part of a broader milestone for the organization, which now protects more than 40,000 acres across a 10-county area. Under a conservation easement, landowners retain ownership of their property.