Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge to receive Lone Star Land Steward Award

by Staff of Texas Parks & Wildlife

The ability to manage land in difficult times, through extended dry periods and economic downturns, is the hallmark of a good land steward. This year’s recipients of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Lone Star Land Steward Awards are prime examples.

The Lone Star Land Steward Awards program recognizes private landowners for excellence in habitat management and wildlife conservation on their lands. The awards also seek to publicize the best examples of sound natural resource management practices and promote long-term conservation of unique natural and cultural resources.

On May 27 at the Austin Airport Marriott South Hotel in Austin, TPWD will recognize land stewards representing private ranches in various ecological regions, plus two additional categories recognizing conservation achievements by a wildlife management association and an urban community park. Also, the Leopold Conservation Award for Texas will be presented to the 2009 statewide land steward, still to be announced, by the Sand County Foundation and TPWD.

Corporate/Public — Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Tarrant County, City of Fort Worth, Parks & Community Service Department, Suzanne Tuttle, Nature Center Manager.

Since the 1970s when active land management practices were implemented on the FWNCR, areas that were once bare ground have become productive. Despite its proximity to a major urban setting, the FWNCR has maintained and enhanced its natural and cultural resources. Prescribed fire is used when and where appropriate, a bison herd is maintained on the property through rotational grazing, and brush control is conducted to control mesquite and sumac. In addition to prairie restoration efforts that includes intensive control of invasive plant species, the FWNCR is involved in a gravel pit reclamation effort. The area has become a field research site for several universities and resource agencies, as well as a training ground for area Master Naturalists. With an extensive hiking trail system, the site provides outdoor recreation opportunities for the public. Its cultural treasures include Civilian Conservation Corps sites from the 1930s and an archaeological find where thousands of artifacts have been recovered.