As Texans, we are often accused of an exaggerated sense of pride – others
tease us for insisting that everything in Texas is bigger and better or that
Texas is the center of the known world. But we know they’re just jealous.
After all, because of its location Texas harbors some of the richest landscapes
in all of the United States. Several distinct ecological regions converge
within the boundaries of our state, making it home to an amazing variety of
animal and plant species. From the High Plains where the great herds of bison
once roamed, to the brush country of south Texas where a few jaguarundi and
ocelot still stalk their prey, to the Big Thicket, the lands and the species
that inhabit them make up a natural heritage that is truly unique to Texas.
But the landscapes and wildlife we value are disappearing from Texas at an
alarming rate, mowed down by the poorly planned development we commonly call
sprawl.
There is some hope, though. While much of the Texas landscape was altered
long ago to meet the needs of a growing agricultural and industrial economy,
many natural communities that provide valuable wildlife habitat still exist
throughout the state. But we must act now to protect these natural communities,
so that the next generation can also enjoy our rich, uniquely Texan natural
heritage.
Threats to Open Space & Habitat
Many natural communities throughout the state are now threatened by a combination
of burgeoning population growth and sprawling urban and rural developments.
As large tracts of land are devoured by haphazardly planned housing developments,
strip malls, and highways habitats become fragmented into smaller and smaller
pieces until they can no longer support many species of native wildlife. A
recent US Department of Agriculture study determined that between 1992 through
1997 Texas lost 893,500 acres of open space to development at an annual rate
of 178,700 acres a year. Out of the fifty states, Texas ranks number one in
the amount of open space lost to development. With no statewide land conservation
initiative, no land use planning, and a projected surge in population growth,
it is likely that the high rate of open space lost to development will continue
well into the future.
But important wildlife habitats are not only threatened by poorly planned
developments radiating from urban areas. Poorly planned development in rural
areas also harms these natural communities, ironically because people are
seeking exactly what they are destroying. The appeal of living in the country
away from the stresses and noise of city life is fueling the growing trend
of ranchettes. Large ranches that would support valuable habitat for wildlife
are now being broken up into small five to ten acre ranchettes. This subdivision
of the land ultimately results in the fragmentation of important wildlife
habitat. As this fragmentation continues, many more common species of wildlife
such as the famed Texas horned lizard will become imperiled to the point that
they require listing under the federal endangered species act. The best way
to prevent the need to list species such as the horned lizard as endangered
is to protect important habitats before they are developed.
Impacts of Sprawl on Habitat
The loss of open space to urban sprawl has many detrimental impacts to wildlife
habitat. The most obvious impact associated with sprawl is the direct destruction
of habitat. Since the low-density, automobile dependent development that characterizes
sprawl requires large amounts of open space, habitat is directly converted
into housing, strip malls and parking lots. Once lands are covered in concrete,
they are of little use to most species of wildlife. Just take a look at the
outskirts of any urban area. Many acres of valuable wetlands that are critical
to the flights of migratory birds have been lost to development radiating
out from Houston.
In addition to directly destroying habitat, sprawl also degrades the quality
of remaining habitat. This is particularly evident in aquatic habitats. Aquatic
habitats are degraded by sprawl when rivers and creeks are channeled to control
floodwaters. By increasing the area covered by pavement, parking lots and
roads disrupt the filtration of rainwater through soil and increase the amount
of polluted runoff that is absorbed by creeks and rivers. Waterways in the
Hill Country and aquatic wildlife such as the Jollyville salamander have been
seriously affected by increased absorption of polluted runoff and silt.
The fragmentation of habitat that results from unplanned development is also
a major impediment to wildlife movement. Movement across the landscape is
necessary for wildlife to find food and water, and to reproduce. Many species
become isolated in smaller and smaller areas when they try to avoid roads
and human contact. Isolated species are then more vulnerable to extinction
from any additional habitat disturbances.
All of these factors together result in an overall decrease in species diversity.
As sprawling developments devour open space and fragment the landscape, the
diversity of life – in both plants and animals – will continue to
decrease in Texas.
The Human Dimension
Urban sprawl not only destroys critical wildlife habitat but also degrades
the quality of life for humans as well. As development sprawls out across
the countryside we continue to lose valuable future parkland along with wildlife
habitat at an alarming rate. The spread of urban development causes land prices
to rise astronomically thus making it difficult for state and local governments
as well as nongovernmental organizations to purchase land for parks and conservation
purposes. When land values skyrocket it is extremely difficult for conservationists
to compete with developers over the purchase of land.
According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University, Texas currently
ranks 49th in per-capita spending on state parks. Only 3% of Texas land is
designated for public use. Yet we have one of the fastest-growing populations
in the country, expected to top 40 million by 2050. The minimal amount of
money that Texas spends on parks and land conservation is nowhere near enough
to keep up with the loss of open space and growth in population that will
occur over that period. And the demand for parkland and access to open space
will only increase as the population of the state increases. The loss of open
space to development is as much a problem for people as it is for wildlife.
Wide Open Spaces Campaign
July 21st, at our annual Conservation Conference, the Lone Star Chapter will
officially kick off its Wide Open Spaces Campaign to combat the loss of wildlife
habitat and open space to sprawl.
The Lone Star Chapter will work with the sixteen regional Sierra Club groups
throughout the state to identify "special places" in our state -threatened
lands that need to be protected for wildlife habitat or that have exceptional
recreational values. Together, the Chapter and regional Sierra Club groups
will try to raise the visibility of these "special places" and build
local grassroots support for their protection. Chapter staff will produce
educational materials for distribution throughout the state and will make
regular trips to each region, hosting events and presenting programs to rally
support for those "special places".
Help us protect the Wide Open Spaces we have left in Texas. After all, what
do we want people to envision when they think of ‘Bigger and Better in
Texas.
For more information about the Wide Open Spaces Campaign contact:
Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club, at (512)477-1729
or
lonestar.chapter@sierraclub.org
