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INTRODUCTION: The first impression of Texas is one of vastness. From the earliest historical accounts to the present day, visitors to Texas have been impressed by the vast unbroken landscapes and once limitless natural resources. Impenetrable East Texas forests daunted early settlers and earned the name "Big Thicket." Native prairies were described as oceans of grass that stretched for hundreds of miles from east to west Texas. Only a century later, many of the seemingly unconquerable landscapes described by early Texans are gone. Millions of acres of prairie have been converted to croplands and urban development or invaded by exotic grasses and brush. Much of the East Texas forest has been cleared for agriculture or replanted in tree farms. Sprawling cities now cover four million acres in Texas twice as much acreage as has been set aside in parks and wildlife refuges. All across Texas, natural landscapes have been altered out of recognition, and the modification is accelerating. Less than 2 percent of the state is reserved in state parks, national parks, and wildlife areas, an amount that is insufficient to ensure the viability of many species of plants and animals, according to a recent Texas Tech University study. Polls indicate that most Texans feel that it is desirable to protect more scenic land and wildlife habitat. But very little money, whether public or private, is spent on conservation of natural places in Texas. This is partly because there is still so much open land in Texas that political leaders do not perceive the need for conserving nature. But even though there is still plenty of rural and open land in Texas, very little remains of certain habitats. While a significant amount of land has been set aside for conservation, 50 percent of the conservation land in the state is in only two West Texas counties (Brewster and Presidio Counties), far from most Texans. In many areas of the state, relatively little wildlife habitat has been set aside. The families that settled Texas faced the challenges of subduing a difficult, dangerous land. But today, the landscapes of Texas have not only been subdued and made productive, but have become so fragmented and altered that we face losses in economic productivity as well as ecological diversity. Our challenge today is different from that of a century ago: to preserve the most valuable remnants of our natural heritage before they are lost forever. Why conserve natural areas? There are many reasons to set aside scenic and natural places, from recreational enjoyment and economic benefits to spiritual enrichment. Natural areas have beneficial effects on local climate, store and purify water, and help to reduce flooding and erosion. Ground water, a crucial element of a number of the focus areas discussed in these pages, is as vital an economic resource as an ecological one. Preserving ecological communities the chemical and ecological interactions that occur in natural areas is necessary for the survival of many plants and animals that may be of great value to humanity. Tourism and recreational activities such as hunting and fishing are large components of the Texas economy, and nature preserves and scenic areas demonstrably raise nearby land values and are important attributes contributing to the perceived quality of life that drives growth. In addition, many people feel a moral or ethical responsibility for stewardship of other living things and believe that if current generations allow degradation of habitats that sustain wildlife, we are robbing our descendants of resources that they rightly should enjoy. Finally, the lives and values of Texans have been shaped by the character of our land. As Texas becomes dominated by cityscapes and suburban sprawl indistinguishable from any other part of the nation, our identity and cultural uniqueness are inevitably diminished. |