Conservation concerns can often feel overwhelming. Is there anything one person can do? We asked our 140+ Conservation Partners, “If you could share a single action that any Texan could do to help your mission, what would it be?”
These actions are designed to be realistic and attainable, so anyone can play a role in conserving Texas’ natural resources. This social media campaign is a movement to educate and raise awareness about conservation-friendly choices that benefit our people, prosperity, and natural resources.
So, if you’re looking to be part of the solution, and contribute to a more sustainable Texas for generations to come, we invite you to explore and share these 10 Conservation Takeover Tips! After all, implementing one small change is the LEAST we can do for Conservation!
Try Plogging!
Tackle the presence of litter in our environment and prevent discharged chemicals and microparticles that hurt our environment when it decomposes. Plogging is a fun activity to take action against litter by jogging and picking up trash! But it’s not limited to jogging, whether you jog, hike, kayak, or just put on your active gear, grab a trash bag, and join in to beautify Texas, one bag of trash at a time!
Conservation Takeover Tip from Keep Texas Beautiful
Keep Texas Beautiful (KTP) is committed to making Texas communities better places to live, work, and play through litter prevention, waste management, recycling, and beautification.
Remove invasive plants from your yard!
Some plant species we use for landscaping are detrimental to Texas ecosystems. Invasive plants can spread and take over public parks, green belts, and preserves, displacing native plants. Check to see whether you have Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) or Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) in your yard, and remove them, and even replace them with native plants.
Conservation Takeover Tip from A Rocha USA
A Rocha cares for the planet through restoration and protection.
Research your local recycling requirements!
Recycling doesn’t work unless we do. By checking the materials that are accepted and how they need to be processed, we can help recycle properly. If your municipality requires labels to be removed from plastic, try microwaving the plastic for 10 seconds to melt the adhesive and completely remove the label! This quick tip gets single-use plastic containers actually recycled.
Conservation Takeover Tip from Bexar Audubon Society
This chapter of the National Audubon Society aims to promote the conservation and protection of habitats for birds, other wildlife, and people through education, research, and advocacy.
Light Pollution is Wasted Energy
Leaving one 100-watt outdoor light bulb on every night for a year consumes as much energy as burning 1/2 ton of coal. By using light responsibly to reduce sky glow that obscures our view of the night sky we can protect birds, bees, nocturnal animals, plants, and human health from light pollution.
Conservation Takeover Tip from DarkSky Texas
The Texas Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association seeks to protect the “Stars at Night” that are “big and bright …. deep in the heart of Texas.” and to help reduce light pollution throughout our state!
Turn off non-essential lights from 11 pm-6 am during fall migration!
This will help create a safer flight path for migrating birds as they make their way south for the winter.
Conservation Takeover Tip from Defends of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities by promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Commit to volunteering with a conservation organization in your community!
Conservation organizations depend on volunteers in many ways, from administrative work, to planting trees and from organizing fundraisers to picking up litter. Volunteering in conservation is fun and educational and creates a worthwhile legacy for future generations of people and wildlife.
Conservation Takeover Tip from Exploration Green Conservancy
The Exploration Green Conservancy is dedicated to creating, maintaining and operating the habitat restoration and recreation facilities while concurrently supporting the use of the area for stormwater detention in order to enhance water quality, provide outdoor experiences through recreation areas, and provide natural habitats!
Use less plastic!
By opting for reusable items like reusable straws, utensils, and shopping bags, you can reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in waterways.
Conservation Takeover Tip from Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
To provide science-based solutions to Gulf of Mexico problems to ensure an ecologically and economically sustainable Gulf of Mexico.
Add native plants to your space!
Planting native to protect wildlife exponentially adds biodiversity to our spaces in a region where we are losing native habitats at an alarming rate
Conservation Takeover Tip from Headwaters at the Comal
Headwaters at the Comal maintains a historically and environmentally important site, seeking to strengthen the relationship between the community and the environment by showcasing the significance of the Comal Springs.
Don’t plant TROPICAL milkweed for Monarch butterflies!
Use native milkweeds like aquatic, swamp, zizotes, or butterfly milkweed. Native milkweed dies in the winter and produces new fresh foliage free of parasites to support Monarch butterflies, unlike the tropical varieties. This switch will help produce better habitats to support the Monarch butterfly.
Conservation Takeover Tip from Houston Wilderness
Houston Wilderness works with a variety of business, environmental and government interests to protect and promote the 10 diverse ecoregions of the 13+ county area around Greater Houston, Galveston Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, including coastal prairies, forests, wetlands, and waterways.
Ensure your trash gets disposed of properly to make a BIG impact on water quality!
All trash that doesn’t get thrown away, recycled, or composted is bound to end up in a waterway. This has the potential to be eaten by wildlife, and as it decomposes, can release chemicals that are harmful to our water supply.
Conservation Takeover Tip from John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
The Wetland Center’s mission is to educate the public and provide research opportunities in the areas of water reuse, quality and supply; wildlife conservation; and wetland systems.
Remember that the power to bring about positive change lies within each and every one of us. By embracing these Conservation Takeover Tips and making conscious choices in our daily lives, we have the potential to transform Texas into a thriving and sustainable environment for the future!
Let’s take part, let’s take over with #ConservationTakeover!