Desert Evening at Big Bend, by Louis Vest
© Louis Vest (LandScope Texas Banner)

Threats and Issues

Texas is blessed with a rich natural and cultural heritage. Holding on to this rich heritage will require concerted effort in the face of immense challenges. As the state’s population increases, so do land fragmentation, loss of open space, genetic isolation, habitat degradation, and the impacts to our lands and waters. Invasive species are disrupting ecosystems and reducing biodiversity.

Climate change and the need to develop new forms of clean, renewable energy stand as daunting issues for the conservation community in Texas as in the rest of the world.

Yet, conservation success stories—such as the recovery of endangered brown pelicans and the reintroduction of peregrine falcons and bighorn sheep—give cause for hope. Polls and surveys consistently show that Texas citizens strongly support land and water conservation and outdoor recreation, and they are willing to pay for these services.

Resources to address these conservation challenges are limited, so we must work together to ensure that our state’s wildlife, habitat and recreational areas are protected into the future.

Threats to Conservation in Texas

  • Invasive Species

    Invasive species are a leading threat to native biodiversity and natural habitats across the U.S., and Texas is no exception.

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