The Refugio-Goliad Prairie Project

Once upon a time, hundreds of species of plants and animals thrived amid this expansive grassland, but today, less than 1% of this habitat remains. Such a significant loss of coastal prairie has devastated many wildlife populations, including the Attwater’s prairie chicken. As one of North America’s most endangered birds, only a few dozen Attwater’s prairie chickens remained in the wild by 2017. But during the 2021 spring count, populations were found to have reached a near 30-year high with estimates at around 178 birds—a testament to the success of the local conservation community's ongoing management efforts.  

Other rare species that have experienced decline along the Texas coast include the northern aplomado falcon, white-tailed hawk and Texas prairie dawn. However, places where these remnant prairies endure on a landscape-scale offer TNC and its partners an opportunity to restore and revitalize this imperiled habitat type and preserve the species that depend on it.

Within the Refugio-Goliad Prairie, many heritage ranching operations are helping the region remain one of the most productive grassland ecosystems in North America. Ranchers appreciate the importance of the native grasslands and have helped sustain them for generations. They also realize that conserving this important coastal prairie requires a concerted effort. Through collaborative private-lands projects, landowners are working with nonprofit conservation groups, including TNC, and state and federal natural resource agencies to maintain and enhance this vibrant prairie landscape. These partnerships provide opportunities to leverage conservation efforts in a broader landscape to produce tangible results.

While some coastal tallgrass prairie remains intact, these grasslands need careful management to thrive. As a result, the Coastal Prairie Conservation Initiative (CPCI) was formed in 1998 to restore habitat in the Refugio-Goliad Prairie and maintain the economic viability of agricultural lands. The partnership includes private landowners, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and TNC.

The Gulf Coast region historically depended on wildfire to maintain a careful ecological balance. Fire prevents brush and trees from overtaking a prairie, removes dead vegetation that prevents new growth and improves habitat for prairie birds, mammals and butterflies. TNC and others are using prescribed fire to restore the Refugio-Goliad Prairie, while working with ranchers through the CPCI, to help combat invasive species and develop compatible grazing and habitat management plans. Ultimately, TNC's conservation vision for the region includes partnering with and engaging local landowners to restore this coastal prairie habitat while helping species like the Attwater’s prairie chicken once again thrive here.