Taking Care Of Texas

TxWAC:The Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) connects funders with conservation projects that improve water quality and quantity across Texas. Piloted in the Upper Trinity River Basin in 2021 and expanded in 2022, the 18-month trial secured over $3 million for local water initiatives. Following its success, TxWAC is expanding statewide. Its goals include enhancing river health, increasing awareness of effective water conservation, and fostering collaboration among conservation groups, companies, and communities. Texan by Nature facilitates the initiative, overseeing project matching, stakeholder engagement, and communications.

Conservation Wrangler - Projects and Summit:Texan by Nature's Conservation Wrangler program accelerates high-impact, Texan-led conservation initiatives. Up to six projects are selected annually for 18 months of support, including strategic planning, messaging, metrics analysis, partnership development, and a professionally produced video. Projects are announced each April and featured at the annual Conservation Summit. Texan by Nature provides approximately $65,000 support per project each year. The Summit is typically scheduled for November at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

Conservation Partner Support: Texan by Nature supports a network of over 170 Conservation Partners across Texas and beyond, offering resources in strategy, marketing, education, and partnership development. The program includes monthly media roundups, quarterly meetups, training sessions, and year-round engagement to strengthen and connect conservation efforts. This trusted network serves as the foundation for aligning conservation projects with industry partners to scale impact statewide.

Deep in the Heart:Deep in the Heart is a Texas-based film designed to inspire conservation, highlight the connection between water and wildlife, and showcase Texas' ecological significance. Premiering in theaters on June 3, 2022, it is now available via streaming and reaches audiences through schools, universities, community screenings, and digital platforms. To support conservation education, the film includes free companion curriculum aligned with TEKS and NGSS standards. Materials are available in English and Spanish for K12 teachers and students.Production of Deep in the Heart 2 began in 2023.

Nature and Health Alliance: Texan by Nature serves as program manager for the Nature and Health Alliance, a network advancing the connection between nature and human health. The Alliance includes researchers, medical professionals, and practitioners across 30 states and four countries, working together to promote the health benefits of nature through research, collaboration, and shared initiatives.

Center for Health and Nature: In 2016, Texan by Nature and Houston Methodist co-hosted a symposium to explore gaps in the science behind nature's impact on health and healing. This led to the creation of the Center for Health & Nature. Since then, the Center has advanced research, launched data-driven projects, and shared findings through publications and annual symposiums.

Texan by Nature 20: Launched in 2019, the TxN 20 honors Texas-based organizations leading in conservation and sustainability through innovation, commitment, and best practices. These organizations serve as models for others across Texas and beyond. Texan by Nature evaluates more than 2,000 organizations across 12 sectors using a 17-point scoring system, narrowing to a top 50. A selection committee of industry leaders then chooses the final 20. The TxN 20 generates millions of media impressions annually and showcases replicable examples of conservation leadership.

Return on Conservation (ROC):Texan by Nature is developing a standardized framework and baseline dataset to measure conservation investment and impact across Texas. These tools will support industries, municipalities, and conservation groups in setting goals, tracking outcomes, and aligning efforts with global standards like the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By addressing the current lack of trusted data and reporting frameworks, ROC aims to improve funding, visibility, and strategic integration of local conservation. Planned deliverables include a statewide conservation report and project-level report cards illustrating how local actions contribute to broader sustainability goals.

Texan by Nature Certification: Texan by Nature Certification recognizes Texas-based conservation efforts that benefit people, support economic prosperity, and protect natural resources. Certified projects are data-driven and serve as replicable models for others. Texan by Nature supports these projects through case study development, media outreach, and knowledge sharing. Efforts include building a searchable project repository to increase visibility and ease replication.