How can we protect natural areas?

In the past, many conservation efforts have been led by government agencies, and both supporters and opponents of conservation sometimes assume that nature preserves must be publicly owned. But public parks are only one form of conservation, and are likely to always be less important in Texas than private conservation, as more than 95 percent of the state is privately owned. Protecting wildlife and natural diversity should employ multiple approaches and rely greatly on the participation of willing private landowners. Many valuable natural treasures in Texas have survived because of sound private management. It is in the interest of all Texans to inform landowners, when necessary, about the significance of resources they own. We also must recognize that while private interests have safeguarded many examples of natural beauty in the past, new pressures may make private conservation harder in the future. Ranching activities, which are often compatible with wildlife and resource conservation, are no longer economically competitive with development in many parts of Texas. As land prices increase and traditional land uses become increasingly untenable, incentives for land conservation become ever more necessary.

Land trusts are private organizations that may conserve land for wildlife benefit. Land trusts may purchase or accept donations of land. Land trusts can perform an important service by acquiring important tracts that landowners are willing to sell or give. Landowners may also donate conservation easements vation easements vation easements vation easements to land trust organizations. Conservation easements are agreements between the land trust and a private landowner to limit activities such as commercial development on a property, even after future sale or inheritance. Landowners may receive certain tax benefits by donating the easement. Land under conservation easement remains private and is not publicly accessible, unless the landowner wishes. Many conservation easements have been donated by landowners on a voluntary basis, but easements may also be purchased. Conservation easements are an appropriate tool for conserving the natural, rural character of private land in areas where traditional land uses are no longer competitive with residential or commercial land development.

In addition, new conservation programs involving nonbinding management agreements are increasingly being pursued by Texas landowners. These programs offer different amounts of short and longterm funding to achieve different levels of conservation. For example, landowners who wish to manage their land for rare animals or plants may benefit from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grants under the Landowner Incentive Program. Environmental Defense, a nonprofit organization, has launched a program to provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners who are interested in restoring and managing habitat for two endangered songbirds the blackcapped vireo and goldencheeked warbler  that live on private ranches in the Texas Hill Country. This initiative, the Landowner Conservation Assistance Program, is appropriate for owners who wish to enhance habitat and protect wildlife without placing longterm restrictions on their property. These programs have helped landowners to realize rewards for good land management and have reduced concerns about government regulation of endangered species occurring on private land. In addition, landowners with prior agricultural property tax valuation may qualify for equivalent tax valuation by implementing wildlife management activities on their property. Landowners may also benefit from "ecotourism" based on wildlifeand natural scenery.

Conservation easements and incentivebased programs can have great impact on Texas by assisting property owners who are interested in conservation. However, more resources are needed by conservation organizations to ensure the success of these programs, as conservation groups must work intensively to publicize the programs and to maintain good relationships with the private citizens who will ultimately preserve Texas' land and wildlife.