TALT Secures $25 Million to Enhance Coastal Prairie Conservation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2023
Media contact: Kacie Hatsfelt
985-351-9867 khatsfelt@txaglandtrust.org

Texas Agricultural Land Trust Secures $25 Million to Enhance Coastal Prairie Conservation
USDA/NRCS Makes Historic Investment in Regional Conservation Partnership Program

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) is excited to announce a landmark $25 million pledge from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This substantial commitment is a testament to the united efforts of conservation organizations across Texas, dedicated to advancing conservation solutions in the Texas coastal region. The grant marks an unprecedented milestone in conservation funding, contributing to an historic investment of over $1 billion in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Administered by TALT, the $25 million grant will fuel the Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership. This initiative builds upon the collaborative efforts of various conservation organizations and focuses on partnering with Texas landowners to safeguard the natural resources of coastal prairies.

Crucial working lands across Texas, which offer conservation benefits and support wildlife habitats, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Only 100,000 acres of the once extensive Texas Coastal Tallgrass Prairie remain, which has devastated wildlife populations, including the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken, and other rare species. Through conservation easements and voluntary agreements, the partnership aims to protect these vital habitats. Additionally, it will implement comprehensive conservation plans rooted in scientifically validated practices and regenerative agricultural principles.

“This presents an incredible opportunity for us to further our collaboration with Texas landowners in preserving the vast, open landscapes and cherished coastal treasures,” said Russell Marshall, Chairman of TALT’s Board of Directors. “This grant, the largest in TALT’s history, underscores its profound impact on conserving working lands in the coastal region. The bulk of these funds will directly benefit land stewards, affirming our commitment to a landscape-scale approach. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the unwavering support and collaborative spirit of conservation organizations across the state and coastal region, which has turned this grant into a reality.”

Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership Partners include:

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
San Antonio Bay Partnership
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assoc.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Climate Trust
The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf Restoration Program

“We still have a long way to go before we will be ready to roll out this new program, but we are excited about the prospects of working with our partners for meaningful progress on coastal prairie conservation,” said TALT CEO Chad Ellis. “We’ll be engaged in discussions with NRCS in the coming months to determine how these funds will be allocated and how they can amplify efforts to protect these last remnants of coastal prairies in Texas.”

The award is part of more than $1 billion being invested in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land. Apart from TALT’s initiative, two other Texas projects have received funding through the Coastal Prairie Conservancy and the Hill Country Conservancy.

RCPP leverages a voluntary conservation approach, expanding the reach of conservation efforts and fostering climate-smart agriculture through public-private collaborations. The historic funding is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and the Farm Bill.