Schools
and organizations across the state have begun service-learning projects
to benefit wildlife and the environment with the help of Texas Healthy
Habitats Grants. A total of $225,000 in Texas Healthy Habitats Grants
were awarded to 15 different schools and non-profit youth organizations
across the state, including near Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston,
Bryan, Lubbock and other cities. Each organization received up to
$15,000.
The students are addressing priorities in the Texas Wildlife
Action Plan, a blueprint to "keep common species common" and avoid more
species from becoming threatened and endangered. Texas is believed to be
the first state offering grants for student service projects to support
a state wildlife action plan.
Encana donated $486,000 to
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to support the Healthy Habitats
grants program, plus two other projects ・control of giant salvinia and
other invasive plants choking Toledo Bend reservoir in East Texas, and
facilities for the new Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton
County. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department experts will continue to
guide grant projects as they unfold over the next year.
Student projects are to research and define a local
environmental issue, investigate public and organizational policies
related to the issue, design and implement a service-learning project in
collaboration with at least two community partners (including TPWD
staff), evaluate and publicize the results to public officials and
community members, and develop Web profiles for each project that will
be integrated into the TPWD and TxCSL Web sites. Students started
planning projects this fall and are continuing their field work
throughout spring.
Below are updates on grant recipients and their projects,
listed by metropolitan area or region. More information, including
photos and video, is on the Healthy
Habitats Facebook fan page.
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