Project WILD

1
Project WILD
2
What the Public Should Know

• Fish and wildlife resources are a public trust
• Conservation and management of terrestrial and
  water resources are essential to sustaining fish
  wildlife, the outdoor landscape, the quality
  of our lives
• Understanding and active participation in the
  stewardship and support of our natural resources
  is key

3
Answering the NeedCouncil for Environmental
Education (CEE)

• Award-winning Programs
• Project WILD
• Flying WILD
• Wet in the City

4
Project WILD Organizational Chart
State Agencies (TPWD)
National Office (CEE)
State PW Coordinator
Volunteer PW Facilitators
Teachers/ Students
5
Project WILD
6
Project WILD Goals How to
Think, not What to Think!

• Uses a balanced unbiased approach
• Emphasizes awareness, appreciation and
  understanding of wildlife and natural resources
• Introduces skills such as critical thinking,
  observation, classification and graphing

7
One MillionEducators Gone WILD!

WILD Educators have provided environmental
education instruction to more than 53
million students! Texas leads the nation in the
number of educators trained
8
Why is TPWD the state sponsor for Project WILD?

• WHY?

The mission of TPWD To manage and conserve the
natural and cultural resources of Texas and to
provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation
opportunities for the use and enjoyment of
present and future generations.
9
Who are the next decision makers?

• Its important that our youth become
  environmentally literate
• In just 5 short yearsthose 7th and 8th graders
  will be voting age!

10
Keep Texas Wild A Regional Approach
11
TPWDPriority Issues Topics of Concern

• This list came from a series of focus meetings
  with leading biologists across the state. They
  were asked What issues in your area are most
  important for people to know or understand?

12
Common Across the State

• Appreciation for the flora (plants) and fauna
  (wildlife) of their region of Texas
• Habitat
• What is a habitat?
• Fragmentation
• Effects of urbanization on habitat
• Native plants Wildscapes for homes and
  business

13
Common Across the State
Understanding the interconnectedness of wildlife
and ecosystems Predator / Prey
relationships Why should I care about wildlife?
Why do we care about rare species? Handling
human-wildlife conflicts How an ecosystem works
Invasive species / Exotics What are
they? Why are they a problem? How to prevent
spread?
14
Common Across the State
Conservation What is conservation? Impact of
active management Benefits of conservation Encou
raging stewardship activities Understanding
Texas Water Understanding water systems surface
water, springs, groundwater How an aquifer
works Value of aquatic habitats Who owns the
water?
15
Common Across the State

• Water for the Future
• State of water
• Future water sources
• Pros Cons, costs benefits of different
• solutions

16
Top Issues by Region Pineywoods

• Habitat Loss / Fragmentation
• Land Conversion / Loss of Native Ecosystems
• Loss of Diversity
• Water Quality/Quantity
• Reservoirs Impacts and Biological Costs
• Fish Kills (non-point source pollution)

17
Top Issues by Region Hill Country

• Habitat Fragmentation
• Land Management for Diversity / Changes in Fire
  Patterns
• Human Wildlife Conflicts
• Stewardship in a Watershed
• Water Quality and Quantity
• Water for Wildlife

18
Top Issues by Region Panhandle Plains

• Loss and Fragmentation of Grasslands Prairies
• Land Management Practices
• Invasive Trees (that affect groundwater quantity)
• Finding a Balance Habitat Needs for People
  Wildlife
• Ogallala Water Issues
• Understanding Wetlands / Playas
• Future of Water
• Riparian Corridor Restoration

19
Top Issues by Region Trans Pecos

• Living with Wildlife
• Appreciation and Value of Habitat and
  Biodiversity of the Chihuahuan Desert
• Land Fragmentation / Urban Sprawl
• Water Quality (including increasing salinity)
• Competing Uses for Water (international
  human/wildlife needs)
• Exotic species (Salt Cedar fish)
• Loss of Springs

20
Top Issues by RegionPrairies and Lakes

• Loss of Prairies / Changing Land use
• Invasive Exotic Species
• Understanding the Value of Blackland Prairies
  the Role of Outlying Farms/Ranches)
• Benefits of conservation / what is conservation
• Water Conservation
• Understanding Stream Dynamics
• Trinity River

21
Top Issues by Region Gulf Coast

• Habitat Destruction Fragmentation/ Urban Sprawl
  
• Human/Wildlife Conflicts (including Alligators)
• Invasive Species
• Water for a Growing Texas
• Wetland Loss
• Problems of Invasive Plants
• Freshwater Inflows into Bays Estuaries

22
Top Issues by Region South Texas

• Loss of habitat due to population growth
• Appreciation for Nature
• Agricultural Impacts on wildlife and habitat
• Introduction of Exotic, Invasive Plants
• Water Quantity
• Estuaries/Saltwater, Freshwater Inflow
• Water for Wildlife

23
Water Matters

• Across the state, water quantity and quality is
  struggling under the demands of Texas's
  population growth.
• Each region faces unique issues based on the
  physical characteristics and water demands of the
  area.
• While water is essential for human health,
  economic growth and quality of life, it is also
  essential for flora, fauna and fish.

24
TPWD Supplemental Resources

• TEKS/TAKS Online Database
• Texas Adaptations of WILD activities
• Teacher Toolkit (maps, activities, etc)
• Education Loaner Kits
• Keep Texas WILD Magazine Website
• Free publications

25
Lets Get WILD!