Southern Conservation Trust (CSCT) is well-known in Fayette County for its land stewardship activities, including the public-access Line Creek Nature Area in Peachtree City and The Ridge Nature Area in Fayetteville.
Now, SCT has more than doubled its conservation efforts, holding conservation easements on more than 6,000 acres statewide.
The nonprofit SCT recently announced its largest increase in conserved land in the land trust’s 23-year history. In August, the SCT had 2,800 acres under conservation, with a primary focus on the southern crescent of Atlanta.
As of Jan. 1, SCT now holds conservation easements on more than 6,000 acres across the state of Georgia, including multiple coastal wetlands in the Savannah area, said SCT Executive Director Katie Pace.
“Building on the organization’s strong foundation, we have been able to significantly expand our reach in the past 90 days,” said Pace, who became SCT’s executive director in August. “Conserving land is the primary focus of the organization, and I am thrilled to have the chance to conserve an additional 3,800 acres of resource valuable land across the great state of Georgia in December.”
Of the 3,800 acres conserved, said Pace, 1,878 acres are historical marshlands on the Georgia coast that include multiple historic trees on the Live Oak Registry, with the remaining acreage spread out among Henry, Hancock, Oglethorpe, Floyd, DeKalb and Newton counties, providing much needed greenspace to communities throughout Georgia.
SCT is well known locally for its management of the popular Line Creek Nature Area on Peachtree City’s west side and its newer ecological development, The Ridge Nature Area in southwest Fayetteville.
“Moving into 2017, 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.”
Southern Conservation Trust protects greenspace, conserves forests, safeguards rivers, protects wildlife, provides environmental education, and ensures that our children have access to nature in our communities.
In 2016, the Trust also opened the premier greenspace project in Fayetteville, The Ridge Nature Area, making it the organization’s sixth public nature area in Fayette County. Learn more about how you can partner with the Southern Conservation Trust and protect your land at www.sctlandtrust.org.
Conservation easements are a restriction placed on a piece of property to protect its associated natural resources, according to SCT. They protect land for future generations while allowing owners to retain many private property rights to live on and use their land, at the same time potentially providing them with tax benefits.
Conservation easements are selective to protect specific conservation values, such as water quality or migration routes, and is individually tailored to meet a landowner’s needs. To learn more about conserving your land, speak with the Southern Conservation Trust www.sctlandtrust.org/conserve.
