The Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) of 1978 designated federal funding for natural resource Extension comprehensive programs to sustain and address emerging renewable resources on forest and rangelands and to develop innovative projects that can be replicated with other entities and institutions. Texas A&M University, the state’s land-grant university, typically receives a portion of this funding, which is routed through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to Texas A&M NRI, who administers the funds. The funding is used to support Extension Specialists and other personnel within both NRI and the University’s Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management (RWFM) in implementing programs and creating educational resources that address priority areas identified by RREA.
While the current RREA National Strategic Plan identifies 9 priority areas, we are focusing our efforts on the 5 that most closely align with the mission and vision of NRI and RWFM. These are:
Fish and Wildlife Habitat: Because more than half of the nation’s forests and rangelands are in private ownership, the actions taken by private landowners have a critical bearing on the nature, type, and extent of fish and wildlife habitat.
Generational Succession: Uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises is becoming more commonplace. Increasingly, family natural resource enterprises are struggling with plans for succession to the next generation – whether the next generation is within the family or simply the next owner.
Wildfire Prevention: Wildfires threaten lives, destroy property, and disrupt agricultural production. Wildfires also alter the ecological functioning of native forests and rangelands as they increasingly occur beyond the natural ranges of frequency, intensity, and size due to both historical land-use policies and novel climatic conditions.
Landowner Engagement: More than half of the forests and rangelands in the United States are under private ownership. Thus, engaging landowners with natural resource professionals in decisions about their land is essential for addressing resource management concerns from forest health to local economies.
Public Awareness/Youth Engagement: Forest and rangeland resources are important to the economic and environmental well-being of both urban and rural communities. However, the public’s knowledge and in-depth understanding regarding production, sustainability, and the links between ecosystem services and social well-being are limited.
Key Programs
Several high-profile conservation programs have had their start in RREA funding. These are projects which have endured for years, reached hundreds of people and had statewide (or in some cases, nationwide) impacts. Notable examples include:
RWFM Cooperating Specialists
NRI is working with several Specialists within the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management:
As director for the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, Dr. Roel Lopez provides leadership in the field of wildlife ecology and natural resource management. Roel works with internal and external stakeholders in develop…
Dr. Jim Cathey is an associate director for the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. Jim is a regional and national expert in wildlife management, Extension outreach and programming, feral hog management and conservatio…
Abigail Holmes
abigail.holmes@ag.tamu.edu
Abigail joined the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute in April 2017 as a student assistant. She currently works as a Project Coordinator for a variety of projects, but she was instrumental in creating resources for the…
Podcast Ep. #4: Finding Natural Resource Professionals in Texas and Wildlife Tax Valuations
In the spirit of teaching and extending science, we were excited to kick off the new year with Episode #4 of The Land Steward Podcast, “Finding Natural Resource Professionals in Texas and Wildlife Tax Valuations”. This episode is chock full of personal and relatable experiences—what a great time to be a land steward.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Deer Harvest Record Keeping
Lights, camera, action! We’re back with the newest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. During this installment we chatted with ranch manager, Steven Fulton, and retired Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist, Mike Krueger, about deer harvest record keeping methods. We also discussed how you can use these techniques for the benefit of your deer herd and how you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Erosion Control
Lights, camera, action! We’re back with our latest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. We spoke with Bamberger’s ranch manager, Steven Fulton, about erosion control methods and how you can implement these practices for the benefit of soil and wildlife on the land. We had a great time talking about this tool you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Rainwater Harvesting for Wildlife
From the Texas Hill Country, we’re back with our latest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. During this installment, we chatted with Bamberger’s biologist, Christina Farrell, about how you can harvest rainwater for your home and for the wildlife on your property. We had a great time talking about this simple tool you can use to qualify for the wildlife tax valuation program here in Texas.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Grassland Preparation for Pollinators
We’re back with our newest episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 from the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve. We truly enjoyed getting to connect with you to talk about another wildlife management tool that you can add to your stewardship toolbox. In this episode we talked with the ranch’s resident zoologist, Jared Holmes, about native grasslands and how they can be used to benefit pollinator species on your property.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Cowbird Trapping
We’re back with our latest installment of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we greatly enjoyed connecting with you to talk about wildlife management techniques. In this episode we spoke with the Bamberger Ranch’s resident ornithologist, Christina Farrell, about cowbird trapping and how it can be used to benefit native bird species on your property. Under the wildlife tax valuation program in Texas, cowbird trapping is listed as a qualifying management practice in the predator control category. But why? First we need to dig a little bit into the natural history of this species.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Herbicides and Brush Management
This past month we premiered our seventh episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our wonderful partners at the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed connecting with you to talk about private land stewardship here in Texas. In this latest episode we spoke with Bamberger’s ranch manager, Steven Fulton, about herbicides and brush management and how this tool can help you manage wildlife habitat on your landscape.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Supplemental Water for Wildlife
In this latest episode we chatted with our own Dr. Jim Cathey and Bamberger’s resident zoologist, Jared Holmes, about supplemental water for wildlife and how you can implement it as a practice to help benefit species on your property.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2 Recap: Game Cameras
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered our fifth episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed sharing more about wildlife management practices through the series.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Food Stations Recap
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered the fourth episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed getting to share even more about wildlife management practices through this series. Our hosts, Dr. Roel Lopez and Dr. April Sansom, introduced this new chapter of Leopold Live! and explained how new episodes will be a little different from what we covered in Chapter 1.
A Big Opportunity for Small-Acreage Landowners
Conservation efforts often focus on large properties with thousands of acres of potential habitat. That focus is understandable, given the impact that effective stewardship of those holdings can have.
Leopold Live! Chapter 2: Bluebird Boxes Recap
Lights, camera, Leopold Live! Last month we premiered our second episode of Leopold Live!: Chapter 2 with our incredible partners at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, and we truly enjoyed connecting with you again as we continue with the series. Our usual hosts, Dr. Roel Lopez (TAMU NRI) and April Sansom (Bamberger Ranch), opened the episode by introducing this new chapter of Leopold Live! and explaining how these upcoming episodes will be a little different from what we covered Chapter 1.
No Party like a Plant Party: A look into Texas Rangeland Plants
Dr. Megan Clayton, Associate Professor and Extension Range Specialist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and one of NRI’s partners in support of RREA, is seeking to address the widespread lack of plant knowledge with a new program that puts the spotlight on Texas vegetation.
Just like old times, only different. Adjusting to social distancing measures allowed us to think creatively in how we approach our engagement and education work, and partnering with the Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve was a smart match for our team and like-minded missions—educating land stewards by demonstration and practice.
It's October, which means quail hunting season will soon be here (starting on Halloween this year!). Until then, we've got some recommendations for quail research institutions you should follow, as well as a new live video series focusing on Aldo Leopold's wildlife habitat management tools.
Leopold Live launching in one week
If clinging to routines is what keeps us moving forward in these unusual times, consider this a hat tip to the creativity spurred on by our need to connect and teach in-person. Leopold Live! is here.
News from Reversing the Quail Decline
The release of the Special Edition Quail Sourcebook is bittersweet as it marks the end of the RQDI grant and means that the program is drawing to a close.
COVID may have changed our summer plans, but we're forging ahead with new ways to deliver quail education. This month, you can practice your plant identification skills with a new PLS vignette, enjoy some online learning activities hosted by the Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade, and join us in congratulating Dr. Dale Rollins on achieving professor emeritus status!
