conservation and stewardship
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TO BE STEWARDS OF THE LAND, WE MUST Protect and CONSERVE
- Texas contains 7 of the top 15 most rapidly growing cities in the U.S. This rapid growth leads to increased demand on land, which increases the price, which in turn increases incentives to sell or subdivide; all leading to the fragmentation or conversion of native habitat.
- This trend is happening across the U.S. We lose the equivalent of two football fields of natural land to development every minute, according to a new report commissioned by the Center for American Progress. This impacts the wildlife, habitats and watersheds of Balcones Canyonlands NWR and the surrounding ecosystems.
- As the areas adjacent to the refuge rapidly urbanize with new buildings and housing developments, we lose the unique characteristic and story of the land. This negatively impacts the health of native plants and wildlife, as water and suitable habitat become scarce, and even visitor experiences.
- Our wildlife do not understand refuge boundaries, so protecting land from uncontrolled development in and around the refuge is key if we want to see a thriving refuge connected to the community forever.
| PROTECTING THE LANDFriends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (FOB) supports the refuge in the protection of habitats through land stewardship education programs, conservation easements, and land acquisition. Through member donations and partnerships with other NGOs, such as The Conservation Fund and Trust for Public Land, FOB has helped in the protection of over 600 acres of Hill Country habitat. As an example, the 581-acre Peaceful Springs tract was purchased in 2017, thanks to generous support from FOB members and other donors. Recently, FOB has supported the acquisition of the 50-acre Crain tract along Cow Creek. FOB is currently working to help the refuge acquire the 280-acre Higginbotham tract to protect a large block of contiguous golden-cheeked warbler habitat. FOB continues to be pivotal in land protection efforts for the refuge and future generations by providing funding and active support for important conservation projects. |
WHAT IS CONSERVATION EASEMENT?A conservation easement is a voluntary, written agreement between a landowner and the “holder” of the conservation easement under which a landowner voluntarily restricts certain uses of the property to protect its natural, productive or cultural features. Source: Texas Land Trust Council Under the USFWS, you are paid a percentage of your fair market value for the purchase of the farming and development rights in perpetuity. For more information about Conservation Easements with the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, please email the refuge manager, Kelly Purkey, at kelly_purkey@fws.gov. |  |
| HOW CAN YOU HELP?Education is key! The Conservation & Stewardship committee is committed to acquiring or in influencing the designation of land for conservation and we need your help to inform land owners about good land management practices and conservation easements. Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about how you can help us protect land in and around the refuge. Become a member and directly support our efforts to advocate for the land, for the wildlife, and for the future of the Canyonlands. |
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