Applications Open for Coastal Prairie Conservation Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2024
Media contact: Kacie Hatsfelt
985-351-9867 khatsfelt@txaglandtrust.org

Texas Agricultural Land Trust Invites Landowners to Join Efforts to Protect Coastal Prairies

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) is inviting Texas landowners to apply to participate in the Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership, a landmark initiative to preserve the state’s rapidly disappearing coastal prairie ecosystems.

The program is supported by funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and it offers landowners the opportunity to conserve vital habitats through voluntary conservation easements and comprehensive conservation plans.

The Texas Coastal Tallgrass Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the nation, with only 100,000 acres remaining of what was once a vast and thriving landscape. This habitat loss has had devastating effects on wildlife populations, including the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken and other rare species. Through this partnership, TALT and its collaborators aim to safeguard these remaining grasslands while promoting regenerative agricultural practices that benefit both wildlife and working lands.

TALT encourages interested landowners in the coastal region to apply during the next round of applications, which will be open from Jan. 15, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2025. This program offers financial and technical support to landowners dedicated to preserving their working lands and contributing to the conservation of the coastal prairie ecosystem.

“We are thrilled to open this next round of applications and continue building partnerships with landowners who are stewards of Texas’ coastal treasures,” said Chad Ellis, TALT CEO. “By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the conservation of these irreplaceable landscapes.”

The Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership is supported by a coalition of conservation leaders and organizations, including:

• AgriCapture

• Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

• Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program

• Ducks Unlimited

• Grassroots Carbon

• Grazing Lands Coalition

• Gulf Coast Joint Venture

• International Crane Foundation

• Knobloch Family Foundation

• Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation

• San Antonio Bay Partnership

• Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

• The Climate Trust

• The Nature Conservancy

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf Restoration Program

Landowners interested in applying or learning more about eligibility can contact Darren Clark, TALT’s Director of Land Conservation, at dclark@txaglandtrust.org.

Additional information about the Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership is available at https://www.txaglandtrust.org/latest-stories/talt-secures-25-million-to-enhance-coastal-prairie-conservation.

TALT remains committed to its mission of preserving Texas’s working lands. By participating in this initiative, landowners can play a vital role in protecting the coastal prairie ecosystem while ensuring their lands remain productive and sustainable for future generations.

The Texas Agricultural Land Trust is a private non-profit organization, founded by farmers and ranchers for farmers and ranchers. As the largest state-based land trust in Texas, conserving over 285,000 acres under easements, TALT is dedicated to preserving open spaces, native wildlife habitats, and natural resources on Texas' private working lands.