Big Thicket National Preserve Receives Acquisition Funding

Congressman Kevin Brady visited the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor's Center to present a $1.25 million check in early February. These funds enable The Conservation Fund and the Preserve to acquire critical habitat and recreation lands, as spelled out in the Big Thicket Addition Act of 1993.

“Saving the land as part of the Big Thicket National Preserve will guarantee that my kids and your kids will have the chance to see what Texas is like in its natural state," said Brady at the presentation ceremony.

The act enables the Preserve to grow by an additional 10,766 acres. This recent funding brings the Preserve within 2,500 acres of completion under the act.

The Conservation Fund's Texas office director, Andy Jones, also attended the ceremony, along with officials from the Preserve and other local leaders. He said, "Funding is extremely important. The future of our national parks depends on finding money and then turning that money into land. The timing of this funding was perfect. Several of the timber companies are divesting themselves of land and we’re able to purchase that land as an addition to the Preserve."