Texas Landowner Toolkit

For more assistance navigating conservation programs within the state, or for more information on the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, contact us at audubontexas@audubon.org for a consultation. 

State Programs 

• Texas A&M Forest Service 

• Provides technical support and cost-share for forestry and habitat projects, including: 

• Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share 

• Forest Legacy (easement purchases) 

• Forest Stewardship (10-year management plans) 

• Longleaf Pine Conservation Assistance 

• Oak Wilt Suppression (up to 40% cost assistance) 

• Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership (wildfire risk & habitat) 

• Neches River & Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration (prescribed fire & invasive control) 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) 

• Offers technical and financial help for private landowners through programs such as: 

• Wildlife Tax Valuation (1-D-1) 

• Pastures for Upland Birds (native prairie restoration) 

• Landowner Incentive Program (habitat improvement) 

• Texas Prairie Wetlands Project (wetlands & plantings) 

• Technical Guidance Program (work directly with a wildlife biologist) 

• Playa Conservation Initiative (per-acre payments for playa restoration) 

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) 

• Administers cost-share and technical assistance including: 

• Water Quality Management Plans 

• Feral Swine Control Pilot Program (loaned “smart traps”) 

Federal Programs 

• Farm Service Agency (FSA) 

• Supports farmers and ranchers via programs such as: 

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

• Continuous CRP (buffers, filter strips, field borders) 

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

• Offers financial & technical help for: 

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) 

• Conservation Technical Assistance 

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

• Provides landowner-friendly support including: 

• Coastal Program (coastal land/ easements) 

• Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program (free planning & cost-share) 

• Safe Harbor Agreements (flexible species-habitat compliance) 

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) 

• Audubon Texas – Workshops, technical guidance, and ranching support through the Audubon Conservation Ranching program. 

• Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) – Provides planning tools, science, and funding support for playa wetland and grassland conservation in the High Plains 

• Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture (OPJV) – Focused on restoring native grasslands and savannas for declining bird species across Central Texas and Oklahoma. 

• Rio Grande Joint Venture (RGJV) – Works to conserve grassland, desert, and riparian habitats in South and West Texas through partnerships and technical expertise. 

• Ducks Unlimited – Wetland restoration and cost-share programs focused on waterfowl habitat and water quality. 

• Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) – Accredited land trust helping landowners establish voluntary conservation easements. 

• Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF) – Offers native grass and pollinator restoration assistance on working lands.