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Native Plant Society of Texas

Conservation Champions

Craig Dalton

The Cibolo Center for Conservation is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the Cibolo Creek watershed and the surrounding Hill Country region. Photo by Cibolo Center for Conservation.

By Lindsey Townsend, Tyler Chapter

Climate change with rising temperatures and droughts. Invasive species that compete with native plants for resources. Coastal erosion and rising sea levels. They can all make it difficult for native plants to thrive–and they’re all part of a larger group of environmental concerns in Texas. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), our state’s top conservation threats include:

  • Habitat loss and fragmentation
  • Changing demands on land resources
  • Non-native plant and animal species that cause harm
  • Overgrazing and fire suppression
  • Reduced water quality and quantity
 
With its showy red flowers that provide habitat and food sources for wildlife, Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a native tree species that contributes to biodiversity. Photo by Dawn Stover

Regardless of their specific mission, the hundreds of conservation champions in Texas share some common goals: a commitment to preserving biodiversity and natural resources; a focus on sustainability and resource management; a passion for promoting public awareness about environmental issues; and a recognition of the need for collaboration and partnership to achieve their goals.

“Our challenges are the same as what other conservation organizations are seeing: land fragmentation and growing populations that increase the ever-demanding strain on natural resources, which all creates a constant need for education, outreach, and technical guidance,” said Michelle M. Haggerty, the Statewide Coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

While there are more environmental issues to tackle than ever, there are also endless opportunities to get involved and help make a difference. For example, at the volunteer-led Texas Master Naturalist Program, participants receive in-depth training on various aspects of natural resource management, including native habitats and plants. The program is coordinated jointly by TPWD and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

It’s not just large state agencies effecting meaningful change, though. The Cibolo Center for Conservation in Boerne, Texas was started in 1988 by Carolyn Chipman-Evans, her husband Brent, and a handful of friends who wanted to clean up a creek. Today it serves as an award-winning model for conservation, land stewardship, and outdoor learning, offering nature education programs, community gardens, and research projects for flora, fauna, and native Texas plants. What was once a small grassroots organization now serves more than 100,000 children, adults, and families per year.

Invasive species can pose a threat to the unique ecosystems along the Texas-Mexico border. A Walk in Big Bend, Photo by Judy Stanley.
Texas is prone to wildfires due to its hot and dry climate, flammable vegetation, and frequent lighting strikes. Pineywoods Fire, Photo by Peter Loos.
Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) plays an important role in wetland ecosystems, helping stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and filter water. Bushy Bluestem on South Padre, Photo by Cecil Carter.
By conserving Anaqua (Ehretia anacua) and other native trees and their habitats, we can support healthy bird populations and promote biodiversity. Photo by Kyle McManus.

Meanwhile, at the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT), the focus is on grasslands: the most endangered habitat on earth. Of the 26.5 million acres of tallgrass and coastal prairies in Texas that existed prior to European settlement, less than 1% remains. NPAT acquires and protects prairie acreage, initiates restoration projects, and holds regular educational sessions to raise awareness about the importance of prairie ecosystems. It also offers volunteer opportunities such as prairie seed collection, habitat restoration, and land stewardship.

Founded by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes, the famed Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has evolved from a private nonprofit narrowly focused on Texas wildflowers into a major botanic garden and research unit at the University of Texas at Austin. The Center promotes its mission of native plant conservation through its sustainable gardens, education and outreach programs, and research projects. Its 284 acres are a mix of cultivated gardens, an arboretum, managed natural areas, and wildlands that straddle the Edwards Plateau and Texas Blackland Prairies ecoregions.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Fouquieria splendens , Photo by Steven Schwartzman.

Texas is home to a wide range of ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, grasslands, coastal areas, and the vast Chihuahuan Deserts.

Like many other natural areas in Texas, Palmetto State Park boasts an amazing diversity of plant and animal life, including 240 species of birds. Palmetto State Park Trail, Judy Turner.

Another seminal organization that casts a wide net for conservation collaboration is Texan by Nature (TxN), founded by Mrs. Laura Bush in 2011. It brings conservation and business together by developing partnerships with 140+ conservation across Texas to advance conservation that’s beneficial to people, prosperity, and natural resources. Its mission is to activate new investments in conservation, amplify and accelerate innovations, and connect partners to the resources they need to succeed.

These organizations–and hundreds more–are doing the critical environmental work needed to ensure the long-term survival of both the natural world in Texas and its ever-growing population. For a comprehensive listing and more information on their activities and volunteer opportunities, please visit http://eco-usa.net/orgs/tx.shtml

“If conservation of natural resources goes wrong, nothing else will go right.”

M.S. Swaminathan

Did you like this article? It’s from our Winter 2024 Texas Native Plants magazine. Read more here

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason