TPWD Applauds “Land Stewardship Produces a Healthy Texas” Week
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has partnered with various organizations, including the Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD), Texas Wildlife Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Their collaboration aims to highlight the significance of voluntary land stewardship in Texas. The theme of this year’s Soil & Water Stewardship Week, which falls between April 24 and May 1, is “Land Stewardship Produces a Healthy Texas.”
Clayton Wolf, TPWD wildlife division director, emphasized the campaign’s purpose in raising awareness and support for voluntary land stewardship. He emphasized that responsible management of resources on private lands directly impacts the water resources available for public consumption. TPWD is proud to join forces with ATSWCD to promote voluntary land stewardship.
Voluntary land stewardship plays a pivotal role in preserving the natural resources of Texas. Given that approximately 95% of land in Texas is privately owned, this approach is essential for maintaining the health of these resources. It all begins with a conservation plan, with a strong focus on soil health. Over the past 75 years, farmers, ranchers, timber, and other agricultural producers have worked with local soil and water conservation districts to create and implement conservation plans for their operations.
Rickey James, President of the ATSWCD, defined soil health as the ongoing capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. He emphasized that soil contains living organisms that perform essential functions needed to produce food and fiber. This perspective underscores the significance of maintaining healthy soil.
Soil and water conservation efforts in urban areas can complement land stewardship initiatives in rural areas. Urban agriculture, urban farming, native landscaping, and community forests are becoming more popular in certain cities. This trend has positive effects on urban communities, both socially and economically, and has the added benefit of educating and reconnecting people to the land, even on a small scale.
The “Land Stewardship Produces a Healthy Texas” public awareness campaign includes various partner organizations, such as the Earthmoving Contractors Association of Texas, Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas, Plains Cotton Growers, and others. Their combined efforts underscore the importance of responsible land management practices for the overall well-being of Texas and its resources.
For more detailed information, you can visit the website www.tsswcb.texas.gov.
