Commission Agenda Item 10
November 7, 2024

• Item Type: Briefing
• Presenter: Phil Lamb

Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation

I. Executive Summary:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) staff will brief the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on TPWF’s 30-plus year impact on Texas conservation. Since 1991, TPWF has worked to expand protected habitat areas statewide, foster scientific research, and increase access to outdoor experiences—all of which benefit present and future generations of Texans. From inception, TPWF has raised and invested more than $250 million to keep Texas wild. Leveraging 30 years of conservation expertise, TPWF partners with conservation organizations who love Texas’ wild things and wild places as much as it does. TPWF is the official nonprofit partner of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and partners with many other conservation-focused organizations around the state, including Borderlands Research Foundation, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Coastal Conservation Association, Friends of the Pecos River, Gulf of Mexico Trust, and Texas Foundation for Conservation.

II. Discussion:

Key Milestones, 1991 – 2024:

• 1991 – Since inception, TPWF has raised and invested over $250 million in Texas conservation:
  • Land conservation
  • Habitat restoration
  • Wildlife research supporting native species
  • Engaging Texans in the outdoors
• 1996 – Sea Center Texas and Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center open thanks to public-private partnership between TPWD and TPWF
• 1998 – Lone Star Legacy Fund established, helping create Government Canyon State Natural Area
• 2007 – Inaugural Toyota Texas Bass Classic, $3 million raised for inland fisheries programs
• 2009 – Game Wardens Training Center opens, facilitated by public-private partnership model
• 2009 – Gulf States Toyota sponsors ShareLunker Program
• 2013 – TPWF launches Stewards of the Wild conservation leadership program
• 2014 – Keeping It Wild Campaign launches, over $120 million raised and invested
• 2017 – Gear Up for Game Wardens launches, over $5 million raised and invested
• 2021 – Powderhorn Ranch donated, over 17,000 acres of critical coastal habitat conserved
• 2023 – 100 Years of Texas State Parks, raised $2 million for visitor experience enhancements; $1 million donated by HEB for new and diverse audience engagement
• 2024 – Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, TPWF conducting project management for extensive campus update (reopens in 2025)
• 2024 – Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, TPWF conducting project management for new park construction (opens in 2025)