THE CONSERVATION WRANGLER PROGRAM IS POSSIBLE THANKS TO THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENT FROM PARTNERS. SUPPORT FOR TEXAN BY NATURE’S WORK WITH THIS PROJECT IS PROVIDED BY:

Project Summary:

The Texas Partnership for Forests and Water is a statewide collaborative led by Texas A&M Forest Service that works to conserve and enhance  forested watersheds across the state. The collaborative works to sustain these forests to maintain reliable sources of drinking water and provide positive benefits to local economies. Established in 2015, the initiative aims to increase understanding and communication between the forest and drinking water sectors and is part of a larger, regional collaborative, the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water.

Almost 40 percent of the surface drinking water supply in Texas originates from forests and woodlands, making the long-term stewardship of these landscapes imperative to current and future drinking water supplies. In addition to supplying the cleanest water of any land use, forests also purify the air, sequester carbon, promote recreational opportunities, and provide habitat for a diverse mix of plants and animals. These forestlands absorb rainfall, refill groundwater aquifers, slow and filter stormwater runoff, reduce floods, and maintain watershed stability and resilience. (Texas Statewide Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services)

The 2012 Texas State Water Plan identified that in times of drought, Texas would not have enough water to meet the anticipated demand. Additionally, future projections indicate that up to 1 million acres of forest lands are at risk of being converted to other uses by 2060. This makes the long-term stewardship and retention of forests imperative to current and future drinking water supplies. Without adequate water supplies, Texas risks losses in economic growth, ecosystem health, and overall quality of life.

The Texas Partnership for Forests and Water actively promotes and facilitates collaboration across the forest, water, corporate, and conservation sectors. Through broader messaging and increased investment, the partnership will help these sectors collaborate on mutual goals that benefit each group, from water security and forest sustainability to land conservation, habitat enhancement, and economic growth. 

Project Mission: 

The mission of the Texas Partnership for Forests and Water is to sustain and enhance healthy, productive Texas forested watersheds that provide safe, reliable drinking water and forest products through strong partnerships, collaboration, funding, and action. The main goal of the initiative is to maintain and expand healthy forests in drinking water source watersheds through strong collaboration between the forest, conservation, corporate, and water sectors.

Project Impact:

• 11.7 million Texans receive drinking water from the priority watersheds (Texas A&M Forest Service).
• 3.8 million acres of high-priority watershed in Northeast Texas, Northwest Houston, Southeast Texas, and the Hill Country.
• $41.6 billion and 172,000 jobs contributed to the Texas economy annually from the Texas forest sector, based on 2019 economic data.
• Texas forest watershed services provide $13.2 billion in annual value (Texas Statewide Assessment of Forest Ecosystem Services).

Partners Include:

Texas Partnership for Forests and Water is managed by Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS). TAMFS would not be able to expand healthy forests in drinking water source watersheds without the support of these partners: Texas Rural Water Association, Texas Forestry Association, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas American Water Works Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service, Bayou Land Conservancy, Hill Country Conservancy, City of Houston, City of Austin, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, Private landowners, Water districts, and River Authorities.

Project Needs:

Texas Partnership for Forests and Water was selected as a Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler based on the project’s positive impact to people, prosperity, and natural resources. Through the program, Texan by Nature is working with Texas Partnership for Forests and Water to address the following needs:

• Diverse partnerships with water utilities, cities, businesses, landowners, and water management associations.
• Quantification of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of forest restoration in priority watersheds and the associated benefits to drinking water.
• Media visibility to increase awareness of the importance of healthy forests in securing adequate drinking water for all Texans.
• Funding for forest restoration projects in priority watersheds.

Texan by Nature’s Vision and Support:

Texan by Nature (TxN) is working with Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) to bring a broader awareness to the connection between healthy forests and clean, reliable drinking water for all Texans, in addition to highlighting Texas Partnership for Forests and Water as an effective model that could be replicated across Texas and beyond. TxN is working with TAMFS to enhance partnership development, capitalize on impact metrics capture, standardize messaging, and more.

Contact Texan by Nature at info@texanbynature.org & (512) 284-7482 if you can provide resources, connections, or are interested in partnering and would like to learn more.