Conservation Missions

Private + Public Partnerships: Organizations working for land, water and wildlife conservation in the Texas Hill Country and beyond.

True Aims

We celebrate these notable organizations safeguarding Texas' natural resources through innovative conservation work.

These stewards of our land, water, and wildlife represent diverse approaches to preservation - from watershed protection in the Hill Country to the engineering of conservation easements across the state and region. Their missions resonate with modern estate planning and land trust frameworks, creating legacies that preserve our resources for future generations.

While we are proud to shine a spotlight on their efforts, this remarkable list represents only a glimpse of the passionate work being done to protect Texas' natural beauty and resources.

Many of these organizations are nonprofits and hold 501(c)(3) status, providing meaningful opportunities for those interested in contributing to their vital work.

If your professional organization, private or public, aligns with this vision and would like to be considered for inclusion, we encourage you to reach out.

Texas Land Trust Council

TLTC serves as an advocate for land trusts in Texas, to promote the many benefits of land conservation in our great state. Land trusts work to conserve Texas’ special lands and waters by permanently protecting them from development for the benefit of people, wildlife and our economy. By protecting these lands, land trusts help to ensure a high quality of life for all Texans. Land conservation by land trusts is an effective and financially-efficient way to protect water quality and quantity, mitigate and prevent flood damage, and support rural economies.

Website: https://texaslandtrustcouncil.org/

Texas Water Trade

Mission: TWT aims to unleash the power of markets and technological innovation to build a future of clean, flowing water for all Texans.

Texas Water Trade is working with the private and public sectors to develop new supplies of sustainable, climate-resilient water through an approach known as Net Zero Water.

Net Zero Water can be achieved in many ways, including buildings that harvest and reuse water resources onsite, from rainwater and air conditioning condensate to wastewater reuse.

TWT's initiatives, such as the development of the Net Zero Water Toolkit, involve technical and engineering aspects related to water reuse and conservation in new developments.

Main website: https://texaswatertrade.org/

Hill Country Conservancy

The Hill Country Conservancy preserves vital natural resources through conservation, community collaboration and engagement to sustain our region now and forever.

HCC partners with landowners to protect open spaces, ensuring the conservation of water supplies, wildlife habitats, and agricultural viability. Notably, HCC secured $23.2 million in federal funding for conservation easements, aiming to preserve over 7,500 acres of high-conservation-value land in the Hill Country.

The Watershed Association

The Watershed Association is a non-profit organization located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, born out of a love for water.

Founded in 1996, the Watershed Association has been working to protect water through land conservation and education across the Hill Country.

Their vision is to create a greater understanding, community-wide, of the many benefits that flow from a respectful relationship with the land: human health, ecological health, economic sustainability, enriched community life, and the renewal of the human spirit.

Website: https://watershedassociation.org/

Hill Country Alliance

The mission of the Hill Country Alliance is to bring together an ever-expanding alliance of groups throughout a multi- county region of Central Texas with the long-term objective of preserving open spaces, water supply, water quality and the unique character of the Texas Hill Country.

The Hill Country Alliance is dedicated to ensuring for future generations an opportunity to enjoy the unique features of the Hill Country region, including the countless spring-fed streams, its multi-ethnic and agricultural heritage, and spectacular scenic beauty.

Support economic development that is compatible with the Hill Country’s unique features – A key to keeping our Hill Country a special place for generations to come is to promote sources of income for landowners and businesses so that ensuing generations are motivated to keep ranches intact and small towns functional.

Fin & Fur Films

Fin and Fur Films is a Texas-based production company that specializes in wildlife, adventure, and conservation stories. We’re a small and effective team that typically creates 3-5 short films per year and a feature film every 2-3 years.

We’ve had the honor to work with numerous conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Texan by Nature, and our movies have been seen on Netflix, AppleTV, PBS Nature, wide theatrical releases, and international television broadcasts. We are strong advocates for the wildlife in our films and are most proud of our movies when they result in boots-on-the-ground conservation, directly benefiting the wildlife and wild places we all love.

Colorado River Alliance

Mission: To champion the long-term vitality of the Texas Colorado River. Keeping our river fishable, swimmable and drinkable for generations.

Founded in 1994 with support from LCRA, the Colorado River Alliance is now a standalone 501(c)3, leading programs which reach 14,000 community members and school children annually. The Colorado River Alliance continues to partner with LCRA to provide river stewardship education and to be a champion for the people, ecosystems, communities, and businesses that depend on this essential natural resource.

Tancig Law

Tancig Law protects landowner rights while securing multimillion dollar conservation deals.

They focus on closing complex conservation transactions. Their legal services include Conservation Easements, Real Estate, and Public-Private Partnerships. Tancig Law works with private landowners, government agencies, land trust partners, and other professionals to structure and ensure the accurate and timely closings of land conservation deals across Texas and Florida.

Tancig Law primarily represents landowners. Kathryn has helped conservation clients convey donated and purchased conservation easements over their land to organizations such as the City of San Antonio, City of Austin, Travis County, The Nature Conservancy, Texas Land Conservancy, Colorado River Land Trust, Texas Agricultural Land Trust, Native Prairies Association of Texas, San Marcos River Foundation, and USDA – NRCS. With Tancig Law, you’ll stand on solid ground.

SIGLO GROUP

We are a group of highly motivated individuals who have come together for work that we find challenging, enjoyable, and purposeful. Our backgrounds include private sector, government, and non-profit work, with a focus on land use planning, design, and conservation. Our work has contributed to land being set aside in perpetuity for conservation, the restoration of public and private properties, and the creation of sustainable land use policy.

Conservation Planning, Stakeholder Processes, Land Planning, Regional Planning, Site Assessment, Natural Area Management, Web tools, Cartography, Ecological Restoration Planning, Baseline Documentation Reports, and Data Analytics.

Website: https://siglogroup.com/

Comal County Conservation Alliance

The Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA), established in February 2018, advocates for land preservation amidst rapid county growth. Their mission is to educate the public on conservation opportunities, promote county-wide planning for natural resource protection, and facilitate collaboration among conservation groups. CCCA engages with the community through monthly programs, workshops for landowners, and participation in Comal County events. The CCCA has also established channels of communication with elected officials to share information with them about the need for land conservation and the variety of funding options that have been used in neighboring counties.

Website: https://www.comalconservation.org/

Devils River Conservancy

The Devils River Conservancy (DRC) is a community of advocates dedicated to treasure, preserve and protect the Devils River, its springs, and the lands within its water catchment area.

Through education, research and advocacy, the DRC works to ensure the river's clean, clear waters will continue to flow according to their historical and natural regimes for generations to come.

Stewardship toolkit in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Texas Parks & WIldlife Department.

Last Chance Forever Bird of Prey Conservancy

Founded in 1978 by Master Falconer John Karger, Last Chance Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax exempt organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey, scientific investigation and public education of these majestic animals. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Last Chance Forever has provided a national impact through more than 40 years of work across the nation to help everyone understand that these birds share the same earth, same air, and same water as we do, and they are important indicators of the world’s ecological health.

The Nature Conservancy in Texas

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has protected land and water in Texas since 1964. To date, we've conserved over 1 million acres of land, including the initial Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, and more than 200 miles of rivers and streams. With your support, we can continue working to safeguard the state’s natural landscapes, preserve freshwater supplies, protect our coastline and improve resilience for future generations.

2024 Texas Annual Report (Celebrating 60 Years in Texas)

Texan By Nature

Mission: Texan by Nature (TxN) exists to advance conservation that is beneficial to people, prosperity, and natural resources. TxN partners deeply with conservation groups and business, acting as an accelerator for conservation groups and a strategic partner for business.

We bring conservation and business 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 programs, including TxN Membership, Conservation Partner Network, Texan by Nature Certification, Conservation Wrangler, Texan by Nature 20, and statewide initiatives such as the Texas Water Action Collaborative.

Texas Land Conservancy

Mission: To conserve natural areas in Texas and to protect the physical and ecological integrity of their wildlife habitat, native plant communities, and scenic landscapes for the benefit of present and future generations.

Vision: A diverse and expanding network of protected natural areas throughout Texas supported by a community of Texans who share a commitment to enhancing the quality of life through land conservation.

Texas Land Conservancy is a 501(c)3 conservation organization dedicated to protecting the land, water, and wildlife of Texas from the negative effects of land fragmentation and poorly-planned development. We work with communities, private landowners, and other partners to preserve land, restore native habitats, and connect people to nature.