EdgeConneX has partnered with River Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ecological restoration, to transform more than 350 acres of former dairy farmland in the San Joaquin Valley, California, into a diverse ecosystem.

The partnership will support River Partners’ Hidden Valley Ranch project, which aims to rejuvenate flood-prone land by planting 80,000 native plants and trees, replacing water-intensive crops with vegetation that fosters biodiversity while significantly reducing water usage.

The project will also support the phasing out of irrigation pumps, which the partners say will conserve water across the region. In addition, the project aims to expand habitat for native wildlife, including endangered species of salmon and monarch butterflies.

“At EdgeConneX, sustainability is not just a goal but a responsibility. The Hidden Valley Ranch project epitomizes our commitment to our Customers, People, Planet mission, showcasing how corporate and nonprofit partnerships can create lasting environmental and community benefits. We’re proud to work with River Partners to foster a greener, more resilient future,” said Andrew Brodeur, VP, national real estate and sustainability team leader, EdgeConneX.

River Partners was founded back in 1998 and has acquired almost 20,000 acres of river landscapes across California, including the largest on-the-ground river-restoration footprint in the West.

“Restoring ecosystems like Hidden Valley Ranch is key to revitalizing California’s water, wildlife, and communities from the growing climate impacts that we’re witnessing every day. Collaborations like this one with EdgeConneX are essential to scaling real solutions that create immediate and enduring benefits for people and wildlife alike,” said Julie Rentner, president, River Partners.

EdgeConneX has a target of carbon, waste, and water neutrality by 2030. It has also committed to operating its data center operations with 100 percent renewable energy. To support this goal, it has signed several renewable supply agreements to decarbonize its energy usage.

In June, it expanded a 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) agreement with Gridmatic in Texas that aims to match every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumption with CFE generation, measured on hourly increments.