Land Conservation and Stewardship

Land Conservation and Stewardship

The Hill Country is blessed with a rich natural heritage. For many landowners, land is much more than a financial asset; it is their legacy and their family history. Unfortunately, passing on the family farm or ranch, once a time-honored Texas tradition, is becoming more difficult in the face of rising costs and the pressures of encroaching development.

The role of private landowners in the Hill Country could not be more important. Especially within the context of Texas’s longstanding tradition of robust private property rights, the decisions made by each Hill Country landowner affect the future of the entire region and the legacy we will all leave to our children and grandchildren. Many landowners want to preserve their land’s unique natural features and historical uses. This page provides information and resources for you. Also see HCA’s page on the economics of land conservation here.

Download HCA’s issue paper “Conservation Easements and Working with Land Trusts”

Click to view PDF

Tips and Resources for Intergenerational Land Stewardship

Hill Country Alliance recently gathered a group of Hill Country landowners to discuss the long-term, intergenerational nature of land stewardship. Landowners who successfully navigated stewardship across several generations shared their experiences and lessons learned in this new resource aimed at supporting other Texas ranching families. Click here or the image at right to view.

Estate planning attorneys and financial advisors are important for navigating the succession process. Find more information at the links below:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Successful Succession Video Series and Generation Next Course
• Oklahoma State University Extension: Farm Transition Tool
• Texas Land Trust Council: Conservation Easement Guide for Texas Landowners
• Texas Dept. of Agriculture: Texas Agri- Stress Helpline and Young Farmer Grant

Hillside Stewardship

Effective hillside stewardship balances healthy plant communities and soils with the landowner’s goals for long-term land management. When landowners can slow and sink water into the land, this physical process provides a variety of benefits, including reduced erosion, increased soil moisture and grass production, flood mitigation, groundwater replenishment, habitat enhancement, and increasing the flow of spring-fed creeks. Used in concert with long-term management, these site-specific structures can be quite effective. This guide provides a few simple methods and additional resources for landowners looking to improve our stewardship of hillside land across the Hill Country.

Download HCA’s resource “Hillside Stewardship: Methods for Reducing Erosion, Establishing Vegetation & Enhancing Water Catchment”