Sunday, January 18, 1998

Rewards, challenges face parks and wildlife in Texas

By Andrew Sansom

Maybe it's the time of year. Maybe it's because I recently shared a traditional holiday quail hunt with my son. From whatever inspiration, my sense is: Life is good.

Hunting and fishing in Texas were as fine this past year as at any time in this century, and for some game species better than anytime in Texas history. Our conservation efforts at Texas Parks and Wildlife are enjoying unprecedented support from those who enjoy the outdoors. With their help, we have created a hatchery system that not only produces game fish in record numbers, but is also introducing thousands to the joy of fishing and the science of aquatic ecology.

In a unique partnership with private landowners, the most proactive management of wildlife and habitat in the country is producing abundant game for the hunter's bag -- and unprecedented quality as well. This aggressive strategy is also protecting nongame and endangered species along with wetlands on private lands. Texas, in fact, is providing a national model for moving to conservation based on incentive and reward instead of coercion and control.

In our Texas state parks, we are blessed with a diverse inventory of natural and historic places that is finer than the national park systems of many nations. This year we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the state park system, beginning with a $60 million repair program to bring beloved but aging facilities up to standard.

And all this is made possible with but a miniscule impact on the general taxpayers of Texas.

That is the good news. As good as things are in Texas, there are clouds on the horizon.

In the short term, we are managing 22 percent more state parks than we did just 15 years ago with 19 percent fewer dollars over the fees our users pay at the gate.

In the long term, our gains in fish and wildlife conservation are threatened financially by the continued decline in the number of hunters and anglers. By the year 2030, our state population will double and the majority of new Texans will be from urban or ethnic groups who have not supported traditional conservation. All of this is taking place as the demand for outdoor recreation opportunity in Texas -- be it a place to hunt or fish, to canoe or birdwatch or backpack or mountain bike -- is exploding beyond our ability to satisfy it.

At the same time, Texas resources themselves are threatened as the continued breakup of family lands removes more wildlife habitat each year, an alarming trend in a state where 97 percent of the land is privately owned.

On the water, there are more warning bells. As our state population mushrooms, demands for finite water supplies will accelerate exponentially, leaving the magnificent rivers, bays and estuaries of Texas vulnerable to severe depletion.

I believe we can maintain the tremendous gains we have made in recent years, and address the immense challenges to come, if we have the will to recognize and address the problems squarely.

For those of us who cherish Texas resources, two points are indisputable: Conservation is not possible without the support of those who benefit from and love the outdoors, and to know and enjoy the outdoors is life-enriching.

If you love Texas and its spectacular landscape, its rich fish, wildlife and parks, make yourself a New Year's resolution. This year, take at least one kid outdoors who has never hunted, fished, camped, hiked, canoed, climbed or bird watched. You will both be enriched, and you will be investing in the future of Texas.

Andrew Sansom is executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.