Whether sheltering vulnerable wildlife habitat in the hardwood forests of Big Thicket National Preserve or revitalizing local economies and popular recreation areas, the Fund and its partners are dedicated to protecting Texas’ natural, cultural and historic resources. Thus far the Fund and its partners have protected nearly 165,000 acres here.

Projects

Big Thicket National Preserve

We have helped preserve more than 41,600 acres at Big Thicket National Preserve, an area renowned as the "biological crossroads of North America."   Read more

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Fort Davis was originally a frontier post in the fledgling southwest and later home to the Army’s first African-American troops–the famed Buffalo Soldiers. Today, the Fort Davis National Historic Site is one of the best preserved examples of a frontier military post in the American Southwest with many fully-restored buildings and original ruins. In addition, most of the landscape surrounding Fort Davis has been protected. However, when a prominent 49-acre bluff overlooking the fort went up for sale, there was concern that the pristine view would be disturbed. Read more.

Neches River

Our work along the Neches River includes land protection as well as establishing recreational opportunities, like the Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail, so the river can be enjoyed as an outdoor destination. Read more.

San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

In August 2011, the Fund helped the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquire nearly 4,500 acres for the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. The property, which forms a part of the larger Austin Woods Project, was a high priority for the service. It's a particularly great place for recreational fishing and hunting opportunities for visitors and educational activities for school children.

This project is a great example of the Fund's ability to find solutions to difficult conservation challenges. In this case, in order to add this land to the refuge, a myriad of funding sources needed to be brought together. Ultimately, this project was made possible with funding from the Fund, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and the Houston Endowment Inc. Our passion for conservation means we're dedicated to saving land—no matter how complex the project, we work to make a conservation happen.

Village Creek State Park

In 2009, we helped to double the size of Village Creek State Park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) worked for some time to protect Village Creek from the encroaching urban development in nearby Lumberton.

The park includes a diversity of  longleaf pine uplands, wetlands and cypress swamps, as well as two miles of valuable creek frontage. The 69-mile long Village Creek is recognized as one of the last free-flowing streams in East Texas and is home to rare fish and mussels. 

Through a creative combination of public and private grant funding, we were able to offer 1,500 acres of undeveloped timber land to TPWD at about one-quarter of its market value. The land expands Village Creek's southern boundary and more than doubles the park's original 1,090 acres. The land we protected also adds to Big Thicket National Preserve’s Village Creek and Neches River Corridor units. With this addition, visitors have more outdoor recreational opportunities and state park personnel now have vehicle access to the eastern third of the park.

Green Infrastructure Projects

Galveston - Houston Green Infrastructure Planning (in progress 2011)

At the request of local leaders, the Fund is working on green infrastructure planning and implementation initiative for the Galveston – Houston region, an area about the size of Maryland.  As the sixth largest metroplex in the United States, the area is projected to grow to 9.5 million people by 2040, making the need for thoughtful decision making on conservation, local food production, water resources, and development very important. The Greater Galveston - Houston region is blessed with abundant natural assets that help sustain long-term economic health. Galveston Bay is one of the most productive estuaries in the nation, with commercial and recreational fishing resources valued at over $3 billion annually.

Green Infrastructure Plan: Lufkin-Angelina County

Working with a wide range of stakeholders, The Conservation Fund mapped Angelina County’s network of natural assets. We are helping implement community conservation projects that achieve the county’s conservation and economic development vision and better position it as a gateway to the Pineywoods region. This project was completed in 2008.  Read More

Houston Parks Rapid Assessment

The Conservation Fund, in partnership with the Houston Parks Board, completed the Houston Parks Rapid Assessment for New Parkland Acquisition in 2005. The rapid assessment facilitated identification and prioritization of parkland acquisition opportunities that implement the 2001 City of Houston Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The assessment identifies the most suitable locations within the City of Houston for new parks, linear parks along creek and bayous, and expansions of existing parks. Read more

Other Projects

Pineywoods Mitigation Bank

In September 2008 The Conservation Fund announced that Texas’s largest wetlands mitigation bank opened for business. The Pineywoods Mitigation Bank encompasses more than 19,000 acres along the Neches River. The new bank will restore native bottomland hardwood forest and provide a wildlife corridor between Davy Crockett and Angelina national forests.  Read more