Where the winds blow and the microalgae grows: The changing lands and culture of the lone star state

Background/Question/Methods

Texas is a state with great biodiversity that is facing large-scale challenges requiring new strategies to effectively manage public trust resources.  Radical shifts in demographics and land ownership combined with wind energy development, invasive species and climate change have created a very disconcerting forecast for the future of the fish and wildlife in our state.

Results/Conclusions

When faced with large scale change, a species must adapt, migrate, or die.  The same is true for agencies.  Our methods of doing business and the ways in which we engage citizens are evolving.  We have moved biologists into the cities where ~90% of our constituents are.  We have developed new volunteer programs to promote citizen involvement and one of these programs has now been copied nationwide.  While maintaining ties to our hunting and fishing heritage, we have begun to offer technical guidance to the new breed of landowner in our state who is more interested in wildlife diversity.  Like the populations we manage, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is adapting to meet the demands of the changed culture within which we work.