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We're tasked by the state with responding to wildfires. We study weather patterns, drought cycles and the status of vegetation across the state to predict when and where dangerous fire conditions may occur. Should a wildfire ignite, we maintain a statewide network of strategically-placed teams of firefighters and equipment so that we're able to respond quickly when the call comes.
Rural fire departments respond to 80 percent of wildfires in Texas - and they do it with shoestring budgets and almost entirely with volunteers. We help fire departments pay for needed training and equipment and help Texans learn how to prevent, prepare for and protect against wildfire.
With roughly 94 percent of forestland in Texas privately owned, the trees, forests—and the benefits they provide - rests in the hands of thousands of Texans. While keeping the entire state's forested landscape in mind, we inform and educate landowners on sustainable land management practices.
We work with communities to plant, care for and conserve trees. We empower local volunteers to make a positive impact in their communities. We are here to assist when disaster strikes with damage assessments, information, technical assistance and long-term recovery.
We analyze and monitor forests, landscapes and communities for susceptibility to health and wildfire risks. We take action with education, information, diagnosis and treatment. We know that any information we have is more powerful when we give it to you.
We can help quench your thirst for learning. Explore links to identify trees using their leaves and branches, create your own tree trails and experience Texas history from the perspective of a witness tree. Share activities in the classroom to open up a world of conservation for new generations.
Rural fire departments respond to 80 percent of the wildfires in Texas - and they do it with shoestring budgets and a staff often made up almost entirely of volunteers. Sometimes they need a little help. Our programs help fire departments pay for needed training and equipment. We also help communities and property owners learn to prevent, prepare for and protect against wildfire.
We work with communities to plant, care for and conserve trees where people live, work and play. We foster appreciation and stewardship of urban forests empowering local volunteers to make a positive impact in their communities. We are here to assist when disaster strikes. From damage assessment, to information and technical assistance, to long-term recovery - we help property owners and communities thrive.
Our experts research, analyze and carefully monitor forests, landscapes and communities for susceptibility to health and wildfire risks. We take action with education, information, diagnosis and treatment. We know that any information or knowledge we have is more powerful when we give it to you. As a state agency, our responsibility is share what we know.
If you have an unquenchable thirst for learning, we offer programs and information that you may either explore independently or share with a group. Learn about trees, forests, the benefits they provide and the challenges they face. Read stories about trees that are living witness to Texas history. Locate champion trees across the state. And bring activities into the classroom to open a world of conservation to a new generation.
+Conservation Education Resources
Insects & Diseases
Tree Identification
Famous Trees of Texas
Texas Big Tree Registry
+State Forests & Arboretums
Ask a Forester
Video Gallery
Photo Gallery
Podcasts
Geocaching
ASK A FORESTER
#TFSintheWild
Without natural resources we couldn’t survive. Conservation education is vital to ensuring people of all ages understand and appreciate why natural resources like trees, water and animals are important and how to conserve them for future generations. Texas A&M Forest Service strives to educate and inform all Texans on the benefits and conservation of our resources.
Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators. PLT uses the forest as a window into the world, engaging the next generation of America's leaders and decision makers. Find resources and professional development on the Texas PLT website.
Tree Trails is a project for students, by students, to celebrate trees. Enhance outdoor classrooms at schools, nature centers and public parks by creating an education trail focused on trees. Access lesson modules and the mapping program on the Tree Trails section.
As an educator, you can introduce a whole new generation of children to Smokey Bear and his message of Wildfire Prevention. Check out a variety of materials to easily integrate into your curriculum on Smokey Bear’s website.
Texas Project Learning Tree offers workshops for all grade level educators throughout Texas. Check our calendar or offer to host one at your facility.
Teacher Conservation Institute is a week-long workshop held in East Texas which uses the forest to teach environmental education.
The Trees of Texas website hosts a wealth of information from tree biology, a tree dictionary to a way to explore Texas Ecoregions.
Envirothon is an intense high school team competition set up to enhance students’ environmental literacy and enable them to make informed decisions regarding the environment.
Tour the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin or participate in grade-level programs correlated to TEKS. They offer traveling trunks that are available for checkout, as well as an extensive video library.
If Trees Could Talk is a middle school curriculum in environmental history created by the Forest History Society. The 11-module curriculum gives educators the opportunity to download social studies activities based upon archival materials.
Now, it's easier than ever to get your family out and connect with nature with one of these exciting programs:
The goal of Texas Nature Challenge is to get families and kids outdoors by visiting as many participating parks and nature areas in Texas as they can. At each site, participants complete activity challenges designed for family fun and nature exploration. Travel across Texas or find nature challenges in your area.
Try out two challenges you can do anytime, anywhere: Tree Time and Tree Search
Nature helps make kids healthier happier, and smarter. Nature Rocks Texas helps you find nature-based places, activities and events in your area.
Texas Children in Nature is a grassroots network working to connect children and families with nature in Texas.
Visit the Discover the Forest website to get ideas of where to go and what to do in your forest.
The Pecan poster depicts the history and gives a description of Texas’ state tree, the pecan tree (Carya illinoensis).The pecan tree grows in each of Texas’ seven regions and is native to most of the state. As a member of the hickory family, it can grow up to 150 feet tall, with a broad rounded crown. Even with rainfall ranging from 8 inches in the west to 60 inches in the east, pecan trees can be found everywhere in between—growing in orchards, open fields or forests, along streets, in front yards or parks and beside creeks and river bottoms.In 1919, the Texas Legislature named the pecan as the state tree as a tribute to former governor James Stephen Hogg (governor from 1891–95). Hogg, on his deathbed said, “Let my children plant at the head of my grave a pecan tree and at my feet an old-fashioned walnut tree. And when these trees shall bear, let the pecans and the walnuts be given out among the plains people so that they may plant them and make Texas a land of trees.”To request a Pecan Tree poster, email education@tfs.tamu.edu.
The colorful Trees of Texas poster walks you through how to identify the state tree of Texas—the pecan tree. To request the Tree Of Texas poster, email education@tfs.tamu.edu. For more information on tree identification, visit our Trees of Texas website.
Print the Tree Cookie Parts mini-poster for your investigation of tree parts using tree cookies.
The 10-piece Life of the Forest poster series provides beautiful illustrations to help teach seed germination, tree growth and much more. This series is available as a free download to educators from International Paper Company.
Tree Time and Tree Search
Working forests demonstrate a continuous cycle that provides public benefits. Cut out and put together this wheel to discover the benefits of our Texas forests.
Get started on learning to use a dichotomous key with this practice activity that includes six tree species. After practice with the key, identify several trees at your school or in your community and then create your own dichotomous key for those trees.
The Texas Nature Resource/Environmental Literacy Plan serves as a framework to coordinate efforts of formal and informal educators to provide lifelong opportunities for all Texans to become stewards of our natural resources.
Come to the 2019 Tax Workshop!
In addition to fighting wildfires, Texas A&M Forest Service is called upon to assist during all-hazard emergencies such as natural and man-made disasters and domestic situations. Follow @AllHazardsTFS on Twitter for the latest updated on incidents across the state.
The Bastrop Lost Pines Recovery AggieREPLANT will take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Over the past five years, 2,000 students have planted 43,000 loblolly pine seedlings over 50 acres of parkland.
Texas A&M Forest Service launches online tools to assist Texas landowners Texas A&M Forest Service launched the Learn Plan Act Texas website in partnership with the Southern Group of State Foresters and the Texas Forestry Association to educate Texans on land stewardship practices. The agency also redesigned its My Land Management Connector application in an effort to make stewardship easier than ever before.
Texas A&M AgriLife awards TFS forester for public service Texas A&M AgriLife has awarded Andrew Crocker, Staff Forester for Texas A&M Forest Service, the 2017 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Pubic Service in Forestry.
Texas A&M AgriLife awards forester for public service Texas A&M AgriLife has awarded Joel Hambright, Regional Forester for Texas A&M Forest Service, the 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Public Service in Forestry.