Conservation-minded Texans have a new outlet to obtain accessible, listener-friendly information related to current research, land trends, landowner resources and conservation initiatives thanks to The Land Steward Podcast, a monthly podcast series produced by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, NRI.
A unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, NRI works to improve the conservation and management of natural resources and private land stewardship through interdisciplinary and applied research, education and policy. The institute plays a critical role in translating sound science and natural resource solutions for land managers in Texas and across the U.S.
“Put very simply, the goal of the Natural Resources Institute is to help solve complex natural resource challenges on a landscape scale,” said Brittany Wegner, NRI program manager and host of The Land Steward Podcast. “We work in the space where conservation and applied research meet.”
Relevant conversations with leading experts
Each podcast episode will focus on a different aspect of natural resource stewardship to provide land and wildlife managers with new resources.
Recent episodes covered the nuances of threatened and endangered species and how instrumental private landowners are to maintaining healthy habitats through prescribed fire, invasive species management and conservation easements.
A natural resource professional representing the broad range of related expertise across Texas A&M AgriLife and other partners will join Wegner each month to share their expert insight and personal experiences on diverse topics.
“The natural resources profession is full of brilliant people with a wealth of knowledge,” Wegner said. “They’re dedicated, passionate, have relatable insight and they’re ready to share that with anyone willing to listen.”
One of the most recent episodes featured Jim Cathey, Ph.D., associate director of NRI and professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
Together, they discussed wildlife tax valuations and additional land management resources provided by Texas A&M AgriLife and other agencies. Further, the episode explored the specializations within the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, describing how land managers can tap into the technical and financial assistance offered through each organization.
Empowering Texans on their stewardship journey
Wegner said the goal of the podcast is to engage Texans with their land and to empower them with science-based knowledge and tools they may need in their own journey as natural resource stewards.
“I am a sixth-generation rancher, and my children are the seventh generation,” Wegner said. “The expert advice and teaching resources that I have access to through Texas A&M AgriLife have been so profoundly useful as we work to best manage our land. I want to ensure others have access to that as well.”
The Land Steward Podcast is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
