Twenty twenty-four marks a milestone year for the Nature Conservancy of Texas as it celebrates two major accomplishments — the passage of six decades since its founding and the protection of 1 million acres in Texas.
The preservation of 1 million acres of natural wonder and more than 200 miles of rivers and streams, protected for perpetuity, is a gift with value that grows more significant considering the dearth of conserved public lands in this vast state.
TNC's patchwork of idyllic properties across Texas has a combined area three times the size of San Antonio, protecting land, water and wildlife. Generations of Texans escape to these beaches and riversides to unplug, to fish and hike and picnic, and maybe to catch a glimpse of a migrating monarch or a roadrunner.
That amazing million acres includes 37 nature preserves and properties plus nearly a half-million acres of family farms and ranches protected by conservancy. A sizeable chunk is now part of 34 Texas state and national parks.
Texas is home to an incredibly diverse landscape, from the Gulf Coast to the Davis Mountains to deep East Texas forestlands,” says Jeff Francell, associate director of land protection. “Working with private landowners and great partners like Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Nature Conservancy has helped protect land and natural resources in all of those places, much of which is now part of our state and national park systems.”
In 1965, a year after forming, the fledgling Texas chapter of this global nonprofit purchased more than 2,500 acres 60 miles west of Houston (with another 800-plus acres later) that eventually formed the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. During the ensuing decades, TNC played major roles in the creation of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and land additions to a bevy of natural resource lodestones in the state.
“We work with some of the smartest and most passionate landowners, partners and local communities to get big things done,” says Suzanne Scott, director of the TNC's Texas chapter. “We couldn't have accomplished this million-acre milestone without collaborative partnerships, donors and supporters.”
2023's centennial celebration of Texas State Parks brought a spark of hope to a state rapidly losing its rural lands. Texans' affinity for wild things and wild places created a groundswell of support that garnered overwhelming voter approval of a $1 billion fund (from state surplus) dedicated to acquiring and developing new properties.
“There is no end to what we can achieve with the help of public-private partnerships like the Nature Conservancy in Texas to help preserve the last, best places in Texas for future generations,” says David Yoskowitz, executive director of TPWD.
The cherry on top of the park-centric year was “saving” Honey Creek, an unspoiled Hill Country jewel nearly lost to development. The four-decade TNC-led project required diplomacy, sacrifice and unparalleled commitment from TPWD, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the landowners.
“I'm so proud that the Nature Conservancy has played a role in protecting some of Texans' most treasured places,” Scott says, “but our work is far from over. We'll continue to collaborate closely with TPWD and partners across the state to map out where and how to protect critical habitat for people and nature.”
Learn more at nature.org/millionacremilestone.
