Texan by Nature Announces 2019 Conservation Wranglers

Texan by Nature (TxN), a Texas-based conservation non-profit
founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, announces the selection of the
2019 Conservation Wranglers.

Texan by Nature brings business and conservation together through
initiatives that promote stewardship of Texan natural resources. The
organization’s Conservation
Wrangler program recognizes innovative and transformative
conservation projects across the state of Texas. Each Conservation
Wrangler project models “Return on Conservation” by positively impacting
people, prosperity, and natural resources. The TxN team will be working
with the projects for 12-18 months providing tailored aid, resources,
and visibility.

“Texan by Nature brings innovation in conservation to the forefront for
the benefit of generations of Texans to come,” said former First Lady
and Founder of Texan by Nature, Mrs. Laura Bush. “We are honored to
showcase the brilliant minds within the conservation field and support
their incredible work as official TxN Conservation Wranglers.”

“Conservation Wrangler applications increased by 100% this year,” said
Joni Carswell, President and CEO of TxN. “We are proud of the
community’s response and inspired by the continuous work being done
across the Lone Star State. The 2019 Conservation Wranglers are posed to
positively impact our land, natural resources and people and are prime
examples of how we achieve BIG, BOLD, conservation in Texas.”

Texan by Nature will recognize the 2019 Conservation Wranglers on
November 13, 2019, in Dallas, TX at the George W. Bush Presidential
Center. This diverse set of projects impacts land, water, habitat, and
more, spanning 64 counties and 7 ecological regions. The six selected
2019 Conservation Wranglers include:

Ducks
Unlimited – Texas Prairie Wetlands Project

Established in 1991, the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project (TPWP) is a
collaborative effort between Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf Coast Joint
Venture, and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The
primary goal is to restore, enhance, and protect shallow, seasonally
flooded wetland habitat on private lands along the Texas Gulf Coast.
These ephemeral wetlands provide critical wintering and migration
habitat for thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other
wetland-dependent species, in addition to water filtration and other
ecosystem services. TPWP provides cost-share assistance to private
landowners and technical advice from partners. The project has delivered
more than 83,000 wetland acres in the region and is seeking additional
engagement with landowners, landowning businesses and corporations along
the Texas Coast.

El
Paso Water – Certified Water Partner Program

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert, which typically receives less than 9
inches of rain a year, El Paso is a city that has long grappled with
water security. In recent decades, municipal water planning has led to
increased resource diversification, expanded water reclamation, passage
of conservation ordinances, new plumbing codes for water efficiency in
new homes, as well as rebate and incentive programs to cut water
consumption. With these measures in place, El Paso has successfully
reduced per-person residential water use by 35%. To continue their
efforts and incentivize water conservation, the city created the
Certified Water Partner program with the vision of engaging commercial
and industrial customers by raising awareness of cost-reducing water
conservation practices and giving positive recognition to businesses for
implementing them. The Certified Water Partner Program is seeking
increased visibility to better reach El Paso businesses and spread the
message of water conservation to other Texas communities.

Galveston
Bay Foundation – Oyster Shell Recycling

Oyster reefs are an important component of healthy estuarine ecosystems,
filtering contaminants from the water, protecting shorelines,
stabilizing sediment, and providing food and shelter for other species.
Despite their importance, oyster reefs are one of the most threatened
marine habitats in the world, with documented losses of 85% globally due
to extreme weather and unsustainable harvesting. The Galveston Bay
Foundation (GBF) reclaims shucked oyster shells from local seafood
restaurants through their recycling program, which are used in
restoration activities throughout the Galveston Bay estuary. Since 2011,
GBF has collected over 900 tons of oyster shells, of which over 60% have
already been incorporated into reef restoration projects. GBF’s Oyster
Shell Recycling Program aims to raise awareness about oyster reef
restoration and recruit new restaurant partners in the Houston-Galveston
area.

Friends
of Rio Grande Valley Reef

Located 13-miles northeast of South Padre Island, the 1650-acre Rio
Grande Valley (RGV) Reef is the largest artificial reef off the Texas
coast. Since 2014, Friends of RGV Reef is dedicated to the ongoing
habitat restoration of this important fishery by implementing
comprehensive science-based management of this Gulf ecosystem.
Historically, this low-relief nursery reef was comprised of sandstone,
clay, caliche, and associated soft coral cover. This created valuable
habitat for juvenile Red Snapper and other reef fishes. However, this
low-relief material had been severely degraded by trawl fishing in
recent decades, drastically reducing juvenile snapper survivorship and
recruitment. Friends of RGV Reef combat this loss by deploying
artificial reefing materials of different concentrations and sizes,
ranging from intentionally sunken vessels to concrete rail ties and
cinder blocks. Diverse, complex reef substrate can provide habitat for
snapper of all ages and sizes, in addition to habitat for hundreds of
other species of fish, invertebrates, and turtles that frequent the
reef. Friends of RGV Reef is seeking to raise awareness of this
ecologically and economically important reef, and to secure material,
financial, and academic support for their restoration efforts.

Oaks
and Prairies Joint Venture – Grassland Restoration Incentive Program

In the last century, grassland birds have experienced greater population
losses than any other North American avian group, with some species
declining more than 90%. Though many factors contribute to population
declines, the primary cause is the widespread loss of quality native
grassland and shrub savanna habitat. Introduction of non-native grasses,
fire suppression, overgrazing, and cropland conversion have reduced this
important habitat to less than 3% of its pre-settlement land area. Since
2012, in response to these threats, the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture
(OPJV) flagship Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP) has
engaged partners and landowners to restore privately-owned grasslands
across the state. GRIP provides financial incentives to landowners for
implementing grassland bird habitat practices on their lands, in
addition to technical support from partner organizations. OPJV is
seeking to raise awareness of their successful restoration efforts and
reach other Texas communities with their message of grassland
conservation for bobwhites, songbirds, pollinators, other wildlife, and
the Texas citizens who live in and enjoy our natural environment.

Trinity
Nature Conservancy – Trinity River Paddling Trail

The Trinity River is the longest fully-contained river in the state of
Texas, flowing through 18,000 square miles of watershed and through five
major eco-regions. With the support of local municipalities, the Trinity
Nature Conservancy (TNC) launched their Trinity River Paddling Trail
project in 2018 that will establish a 127-mile paddling trail along the
Trinity River. The trail will provide 7.4 million residents of the
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with recreation, conservation, and education
opportunities. This project will create paddling trail connectivity and
increase river accessibility, resulting in increased public education
and awareness of the importance of the Trinity River and its surrounding
ecosystems. TNC hopes the increased awareness will result in efforts to
enhance water quality, in addition to increasing conservation efforts
along the river. TNC hopes to gain National Recreation Trail designation
from the National Park Service. Long-term goals include extension of the
paddling path to reach the river’s terminus into Galveston Bay and the
Gulf of Mexico. TNC is seeking partners, volunteers, and funding for the
project.

Texan by Nature 2019 Conservation Wranglers were selected, in part,
based on the following criteria:

• Texan-led conservation initiative
• Benefits community by providing tangible returns for people,
  prosperity, and natural resources
• Reaches new and diverse audiences
• Science-based
• Measurable process and conservation outcomes
• Partnership between community, business, individuals, and conservation
  organizations

All will receive 12-18 months of tailored support and resources
including:

• Connections to technical expertise and industry support
• Recognition and participation in annual Conservation Wrangler Summit
  and Celebration
• TxN seal of partnership
• Op-Ed piece promoting individual initiative
• Letter of support from TxN leadership
• Content and collateral cross promotion via TxN channels including
  social media, newsletters, and website

Texan by Nature’s work spans multiple conservation initiatives,
including the Conservation Wrangler program, the TxN Certification
program, and the Symposia series, which features pollinator initiatives,
health and nature research, and the TxN Leadership Roundtables. These
programs aim to deliver measurable results by building collaborative,
science-based initiatives between individuals, communities, conservation
organizations, and businesses.

About TxN:

Texan by Nature (TxN) unites business and conservation leaders who
believe Texas’ prosperity is dependent on the conservation of its
natural resources. TxN amplifies projects and activates new investment
in conservation which return real benefits for people, prosperity, and
natural resources. Texan by Nature achieves mission goals through the
Texan by Nature Certification program, Conservation Wrangler program,
and Symposia series. Get involved and learn more at www.texanbynature.org
and follow on Facebook @TexanbyNature, Twitter @TexanbyNature, and
Instagram @texanbynature.

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