Southern Conservation Trust Launches Tree Planting Initiative with QTS as Part of Greater Atlanta Data Center Development Project

Ashley Reeves • July 22, 2024

Fayetteville, Georgia

The Southern Conservation Trust (SCT) has announced a new partnership with QTS Data Centers, a leading provider of data centers solutions, to plant regionally native trees in conjunction with the development of QTS’s new data center campus located in Fayetteville, Georgia. As part of the initiative, SCT and QTS will plant more trees locally than were cleared during the campus’s construction.

“We are proud to support QTS’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship in the Southeast,” said Chris Doane, President & CEO of the Fayetteville-based Southern Conservation Trust. “Planting native tree species is critically important, for many reasons, including boosting biodiversity by supporting other native flora and fauna and strengthening overall ecosystem resilience,” We are thankful for QTS's leadership in sustainability and commitment to planting trees in our region.”

This initiative will support planting a mix of 14 native canopy and understory tree species that closely align with an oak-hickory-pine forest community on a plot of preserved land near Fayetteville. Tree species to be planted include Shortleaf Pine, Northern Red Oak, Yellow Poplar, Downy Serviceberry, and American Persimmon, all of which would have been historically part of this property. In the coming months, SCT contractors will cover 20 acres on the preserve that will benefit the region by increasing habitat for birds, mammals, and reptiles; reducing ambient heat levels; reducing air pollution; improving filtration of nonpoint source pollution into the Towaliga River; and reducing monoculture habitat that must be mowed frequently to maintain.

“We are grateful to work with SCT to support and sustain shared resources in our local communities and surrounding environments,” said Tag Greason, Chief Growth Officer at QTS. “Sustainable practices are a key component of our business operations, and this initiative is just the start of how we hope to positively contribute to the Fayetteville area.”

Beyond donating trees, QTS also remains committed to volunteering with SCT on varying initiatives that support protecting public nature areas and land through stewardship and conservation as well as educating community members about nature in the Fayetteville area. The company recently supported improvements to SCT’s Fayette Environmental Education Center through generous donations and employee volunteer work. The combination of QTS’s giving and service illustrate the company’s culture of prioritizing the stewardship of communities, partners, and customers.

About Southern Conservation Trust

Based in Georgia, the Southern Conservation Trust is a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 58-2036727, that elevates nature through exceptional stewardship through over 55,000 acres of conserved land and public lands throughout the southeast, including 5 public nature areas in Fayette County, Georgia, and the Fayette Environmental Education Center. We don’t just believe in protecting land; we believe people should have equal access to enjoy it. Learn more at www.sctlandtrust.org.


About QTS

QTS Realty Trust, LLC is a leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse footprint with over two gigawatts of critical power capacity under customer contract in North America and Europe. Through its software-defined technology platform, QTS delivers secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities. QTS is a Blackstone portfolio company. Visit QTS at www.qtsdatacenters.com, call toll-free 877.QTS.DATA or follow on X, formerlyTwitter, @DataCenters_QTS.


SCT Press & Media Contact

Ashley Reeves

Marketing & PR Specialist

ashley@sctlandtrust.org

Press & Media Inquiries

For all press and media inquiries, please reach out to Tori Betsill, our Director of Development. Tori is here to assist you with any questions or information you may need about Southern Conservation Trust's initiatives, events, and conservation efforts. You can contact her directly at tori@sctlandtrust.org.

Contact Us

About Southern Conservation Trust

At Southern Conservation Trust, we are passionate about elevating nature through exceptional stewardship. Based in Georgia, our 501(c)(3) public charity has successfully conserved over 65,000 acres of land across the Southeast, including five public nature areas in Fayette County and the Fayette Environmental Education Center. We believe that protecting our natural spaces is just the beginning; everyone should have equal access to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Join us in our mission to foster a deeper connection between people and nature. Learn more at www.sctlandtrust.org.

LEARN MORE

Share Post

Recent Articles & Blogs

Morgan Grove Nature Area’s First Prescribed Burn: A Milestone for Habitat Management

By Paxton Hayes • June 5, 2026
Morgan Grove Nature Area’s First Prescribed Burn: A Milestone for Habitat Management Burn Unit 12

AGLT: Collaborating to Protect Georgia’s Wild Future

By Paxton Hayes • May 22, 2026
AGLT: Collaborating to Protect Georgia’s Wild Future

A Year in the Making: Southern Conservation Trust and City of Fayetteville Partner to Preserve Native Orchids

By Tori Betsill • April 22, 2026
FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA, April 22, 2026 – What began with the discovery of native Pink Lady’s Slipper orchids in 2023 has grown into a multi-year conservation effort, one that now serves as a powerful example of how thoughtful development and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. As plans move forward for the City Center Parkway in Fayetteville, a population of rare Pink Lady’s Slipper orchids was discovered growing within the pine understory of a 38.5-acre tract along Grady Avenue, largely hidden from public view. While not federally endangered, these native orchids are increasingly uncommon and highly sensitive to their environment. They are also protected under Georgia law and classified as a species of concern, meaning it is illegal to remove them without proper authorization, making their presence both special and vulnerable. Rather than allowing the plants to be lost as a result of development and construction, the Southern Conservation Trust (SCT) saw an opportunity. In May 2025, SCT approached City officials with a proposal to relocate the orchids to a nearby SCT-owned private preserve. With the City’s approval, SCT’s Director of Parks & Planning and members of its Conservation Team carried out the effort, ensuring the relocation was done responsibly and with the greatest chance of success. Over the following year, plans were refined, permits were secured, and timing was carefully aligned with the orchids’ natural growth cycle. With advisory input from members of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, including experts from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, SCT’s Conservation Team began the delicate process of transplanting the orchids in early spring 2026, carefully relocating more than 100 individual plants with intact root systems to a safeguarded habitat at a nearby SCT-owned private preserve, where another population of Pink Lady’s Slippers already exists and thrives naturally. The work required precision, patience, and teamwork, as transplanting these orchids is notoriously difficult, even under ideal circumstances, and should only be undertaken with proper expertise and authorization. Each plant was carefully cataloged, tracked, and replanted under conditions designed to mirror its original environment, with close attention to growth stage and long-term viability. Early signs are encouraging, with many of the transplants already showing resilience following the move.