Online Nomination Form: 2026 TreesUpstate Emerald Award

Great things are growing in the Upstate! Let’s celebrate them.

Every day, people across our community are finding meaningful ways to plant, protect, and care for trees. From students making a difference at school to businesses creating greener spaces and neighbors protecting the trees we love, these efforts deserve recognition.

The TreesUpstate Emerald Awards celebrate individuals, organizations, and projects making a lasting difference in Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee counties.

Know someone doing something great for trees? We want to hear their story!

Deadline for Submission is December 31, 2026

TreesUpstate is seeking nominations for our Emerald Award. Use the form below to submit online. The Emerald Award will be given to recognize innovative methods that Plant, Promote, and/or Protect Trees. We are requesting nominations describing projects, programs, and initiatives that go above and beyond the minimum standards and requirements. We are looking for nominees who:

  • Plant Trees
  • Promote Trees
  • Protect Trees

Submit Emerald Award nominations online using the form below by December 31, 2026, 11:59 pm EST. The Emerald Award Winners will be announced in an ad we will place in the Upstate Business Journal. TreesUpstate will personalize a unique marketing opportunity to highlight the Award Winners’ impacts.

Nomination Guidelines

  • Submit the online form below by December 31, 2026 @ 11:59 pm EST to be considered for the 2026 Emerald Awards.
  • You will receive an email within 2 business days confirming receipt of your online nomination.
  • A nomination will remain valid for 2 years.
  • Self-nominations will be accepted.
  • If you need to submit supporting documents, please email them to adavis@treesupstate.org and use “Emerald Award” as the subject line.
Name, email and/or phone number
Award Considerations

The Award Review Committee will be looking for nominees that meet one or more of the following:

  • Include innovative methods to plant, promote, and/or protect trees.
  • Meet ANSI A300 and Z60.1 Standards and the accompanying BMP standards published by TCIA.
  • General Landscape Notes and the installation specifications and diagrams shown on site plans must meet ANSI A300 standards and TCIA BMPs.
  • Are an example of sustainable development and landscapes. This may include: construction activity pollution prevention, creating or restoring habitat, stormwater management, heat island reduction, tree equity.
  • Made decisions based on having less impact to the environment before ground disturbance activities began.
  • Recognize efforts on site plans that show design and infrastructure around areas designated as tree protection areas.
  • Chose to do tree saves on site that were not required. Worked around tree save areas.
  • Demonstrate the proper protection of existing trees on a developed site.
  • Involve assistance from an arborist or landscape architect to help define adequate protection of critical root zones.
  • Tree protection barriers properly installed and maintained throughout the project.
  • Demonstrate coordination and the willingness to make adjustments on site plans to increase the width and length of tree planting areas to provide adequate root space.
  • Exceed design minimum standards.
  • Use products such as silva cells and root barriers.
  • Promote tree equity.
  • Educate and train their employees on TCIA’s Best Management Practices that correspond to the ANSI A300 standards.
  • At the end of a successful project, the trees were left in good health and properly maintained so that all their benefits are maximized.