Stewardship Awards
Responsible management of property is often its own reward, as it results in a healthy, productive, and generally aesthetically pleasing ecosystem to enjoy. To further encourage landowners, we present awards to those whose management techniques embody our guiding principles of conservation and careful stewardship of their land. Such actions likely include the following of our state’s non-regulatory Best Management Practices, performance of sustainable forestry, and accommodation for wildlife.
To be nominated for one of the following awards, a landowners must meet certain requirements, like having owned and managed the specific property for five or more years, having a written management plan, and executing the plan to fulfill their established objectives.
Most awards are available not just to forest landowners, but also farmers and ranchers who exemplify sound stewardship of their property. All awardees are gifted a sign that they can place outside their property, to show off their status as stewards of the land.
Texas Excellence in Land Management Award
The Texas Excellence in Land Management Program (TXELM) identifies and rewards landowners across Texas who protect, conserve, and sustain trees and natural resources on their properties for generations to come.
Though many landowners are good stewards, the TXELM award is presented to landowners who have written multiple-use management plans and are implementing management activities based on recommendations from resource professionals. The property must be at least 10-acres and under current ownership for at least five years.
Certified Forest Steward Award
The Certified Forest Steward Award is given to landowners who have performed responsible, verifiable stewardship on a property of at least 10 acres and have fulfilled or are working on the objectives set in their written management plan. The award identifies and rewards landowners who are implementing multiple-use stewardship plans through active management techniques.
Lone Star Land Stewart Award
As part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s (TPWD) Private Lands Program, the Lone Star Land Steward Award seeks to recognize private landowners who showcase conservation techniques tailored toward wildlife habitat and conservation on their managed property, especially over the long term. Nominees must have managed their property for at least five years, and be following a written management plan that prioritizes soil and water health, biodiversity, and wildlife-friendly decision making.
If you’ve been nominated, TPWD biologists will visit your and other nominees’ properties, and select a winner for each ecoregion within the state. Winners will receive an invitation to the annual awards reception hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and may be further nominated for the Leopold Conservation Award.