Taking Care of Texas dba TEXAN BY NATURE

WHO WE ARE
In 2011 Mrs. Laura Bush founded Texan by Nature to unite business and conservation leaders who believe our state’s prosperity is dependent on the conservation of our natural resources.

WHAT WE DO
We bring business and conservation together. We amplify projects and activate new investment in conservation which returns real benefits for people, prosperity and natural resources. We achieve our goals through our Texan by Nature Certification program, Conservation Wrangler program, and Symposia series.

HOW WE DO IT
We build upon the already impressive efforts that make Texas a leader in natural resource conservation. Texan by Nature connects the brightest minds and projects with the strongest resources and funding to make the biggest impact for Texans, our economy, and our natural world.


Texan by Nature has the vision to align the broad interests of conservation groups with the resources of businesses, health care institutions, schools, the scientific community, and faith-based organizations. By building on the Texan mindset and combining our respective strengths, we can collectively create a positive impact for Texas’ economy, people, and land for generations to come.

Texan by Nature makes a unique positive impact by:

Connecting: We connect people and projects with the resources they need to make a significant impact. Our leadership and extensive partner network allow us to facilitate innovative new investments and research in Texan-led conservation.
Communicating: We communicate the importance and impact of Texan-led conservation. Building on the incredible platform our founder Mrs. Laura Bush has developed, we tell our partners’ success stories and work to touch the hearts and minds of all Texans, from schoolchildren to business leaders.
Catalyzing: We quickly mobilize resources to support exciting conservation projects in their most critical stages of development.
WHY WE DO IT
As Texans, it’s in our nature to take care of the wildlife, native habitat, and natural resources that help our economy thrive and help define our identity as Texans. In 2011, Texan by Nature’s founders saw there was great conservation work taking place across the state, but a lack of partnerships and data-based approaches. In a big state where more than 94 percent of land is privately owned, teamwork and targeted strategies are critical to conservation’s success.

We bring Texans together to take care of the place we’re so proud to call home. There’s only one Lone Star State, and conserving its natural resources enhances our collective quality of life. Through our programs, we unite conservation organizations, businesses, health care institutions, schools, the scientific community, and faith-based organizations in Texan-led conservation. We amplify new ideas, advance data-based approaches, and connect people with the resources they need to succeed.

The Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler program highlights the very best Texan-led conservation projects occurring in the state. Texan by Nature supports select innovative and transformative projects in the field of conservation with tailored aid, resources, and visibility. Conservation Wrangler projects demonstrate tangible returns for people, prosperity, and natural resources – a positive and beneficial Return on Conservation. Each year, a selection committee uses a stack rank scoring system to assess the potential impact of submitted projects across a number of quantifiable criteria and then designates between four and six as Conservation Wranglers. Collaborative partnerships for conservation yield great benefits – for our natural landscapes, native plants, and wildlife, and for everyone involved.

Texan by Nature Project Certification provides Texas employers, organizations, and individuals with recognition of meaningful conservation efforts involving and benefitting people, prosperity, and natural resources. Projects can focus on different natural resources such as wildlife, vegetation, and water that can encompass any Texas geography from urban to rural and can take many forms such as urban pollinator habitat development, rural land rehabilitation, smart water conservation, or education initiatives.

Our symposia series identifies key topics related to natural resource conservation. The series connects experts, scholars, and policymakers to hold discourse on emergent issues and results in productive partnerships, research, and funding.

Last year we started a leadership roundtable series that brought together business leaders in each major Texas city to share their thoughts on conservation and its role in their overall mission. Thoughts, successes, dilemmas, and more were shared around the table. Consistently we heard that leaders would like to know more about the work being done across Texas, learn the best practices for their industries, and be recognized for their innovation, collaboration, and efforts in conservation.

Based on the feedback and requests from our roundtables and business partners, an idea was born: The Texan by Nature 20. The TxN 20 is an effort to recognize the best work in conservation coming from Texas-based businesses. It’s an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment, and best practices from a variety of industries. We’re excited to partner with Texas Monthly and businesses across the state to celebrate this work.

From our 2018 Annual Report:
1 Conservation Wrangler Summit and Celebration (annual event each fall, 2nd annual in 2019!)
Formation of the Center for Health and Nature with Houston Methodist and Texas A&M
5 business leadership roundtables
6 Conservation Wrangler projects (+ 6 in 2019!)
70+ Conservation Wrangler Projects
150+ TxN Certified Projects
320 Business Leaders connected from Across the State
5.7M people reached
$18.2M in Economic Benefit
19.5M Acres Impacted
In 2019 - selected the first annual Texan by Nature 20 in partnership with Texas Monthly

In 2019 and beyond, TxN will continue working strategically with all programmatic partners to continue our Symposia Series, including on-the-ground work with EOG to explore native seed mixes for OIl & Gas site reclamation. We will strive to increase industry participation in conservation, expand certification opportunities, and stay alert to creative and impactful ways to amplify and accelerate conservation in Texas!