May

Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative – Call to Landowners

To: Landowners in Harris, Galveston, Waller, Chambers, Matagorda, Austin, Colorado, Victoria, Wharton, Brazoria, Calhoun, Fort Bend and Jackson

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My name is Austin Justis, and I recently joined WHF (formerly Wildlife Habitat Federation) as a wildlife conservationist. Based in Texas, WHF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing on-the-ground technical guidance, restoration, management, and generational sustainability of habitat for the conservation of soil, water, air, and wildlife. WHF Conservationists are experienced in the planning and implementation of a wide variety of ecological practices such as grassland restorations, regenerative grazing systems, wildlife habitat improvements, and invasive species management.

WHF is working with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) and 23 other partner organizations to
sustain coastal prairies and wetlands through the Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative (TCPI). The TCPI is aninitiative funded by a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The TCPI covers a 13-county region along the northern Texas Gulf Coast (Figure 1). This initiative aims to enhance, protect and preserve coastal habitat through funding conservation easements and/or applicable habitat management practices. In my position, I collaborate with landowners to help them recognize their property’s possible landuse issues, opportunities, and solutions. After developing this initial collaboration, I will assist them in identifying potential habitat management practices and implementation possibilities that are eligible for funding under this program.

Potential habitat management practices that are eligible for funding include native prairie restoration, protection of riparian areas, wetland enhancements, grazing management, and other practices that improve wildlife habitat on working lands for the benefit of targeted coastal wildlife species.