Preserving Texas's Natural Environment

Despite our state’s great size, the rapid development of Texas natural areas is

having a deleterious effect on our natural resources and waterways, is jeopardizing

Texas’ growing recreation and eco-tourism based industries, and is threatening the

beauty, character and rural heritage. As Texas continues its dramatic growth, the

stress on our natural areas will only escalate. Every hour, 20 acres of open space are

destroyed in Texas to make way for new strip malls and subdivisions. Chronic

under-funding of parks protection and open space acquisition have opened the doors

to developers to pave over even iconic Texas wild areas such as Big Bend and Caddo

Lake. Clearly, Texas has been remiss in its stewardship of our natural heritage.

Some of the Texas natural areas are at greatest risk and require immediate

solutions to save Texan’s natural heritage. Austin’s Barton Springs is known across

the state for swimming and clean drinking water, but it is threatened with

development. Caddo Lake, which is Texas’s only naturally formed lake is home of

various plant and animal species including migratory species, such as neotropical

songbirds and colonial waterbirds has been seriously affected by the development of

the region. The development has encroached into the park and fragmenting wildlife

habitat. Poorly managed growth destroys valuable open space and farmland, increases traffic congestion, wastes tax dallors & pollutes our air and water. we must reverse current development patterns and create planned, livable communities.Thus, I would recommend the legislature should be established to sustain

the environment instead of voting on a budget that makes massive cuts to the Texas park and wildlife department since state parks generate large amounts of money from visitors as well as residents within the community. Environmentally-friendly development could help to keep the

region’s ecosystem for the coming generation.

https://www.environmenttexas.org/reports/preserving-texas/preserving-texas-reports/texasnatural-

areas-at-risk