The extent of land protected by Fayette-based Southern Conservation Trust (SCT) has increased significantly in the past two years. Those protection efforts now included more than 16,000 acres in Georgia and Tennessee.
Above, Line Creek Nature Area in Peachtree City. Photo/Southern Conservation Trust website.
SCT Executive Director Katie Pace said in early 2016, the trust had just over 2,800 acres under conservation, with a primary focus on the southern crescent of Atlanta. Today, said Pace, SCT now protects over 16,300 acres across throughout Georgia and Tennessee, including multiple coastal wetlands in the Savannah area and river frontage on the Flint River.
“Building on the organization’s strong foundation, we have been able to significantly expand our reach in the past year,” said Pace, who became SCT executive director in late 2016. “Conserving land and providing environmental education is the primary focus of the organization, and I am thrilled to have the chance to protect over 16,300 acres of resource valuable land across Georgia and Tennessee.”
Pace said SCT earlier this month was awarded Guidestar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency. GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.
In 2018, Pace said will offer additional environmental education opportunities to the community, including additional Camp WILD summer camps thanks to the addition of their new Director of Conservation and Outdoor Education, Nick Kilburg and Assistant Director of Development, Liz Hall-Dukin.
“Moving into 2018, we are poised to work with the local community to protect additional greenspace and rivers in high priority watersheds like the Flint River Basin, conserve beautiful farms, marshland and forests, protect at risk wildlife, all while providing environmental education in Fayette County,” said Pace. “We are looking forward to a year of growth and taking a deeper dive into the community as we plan for the proposed nature center at The Ridge Nature Area in Fayetteville.”
For more information on Southern Conservation Trust, visit www.sctlandtrust.org.
