Did you know that Texas Landowner demographics are surveyed by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI)? This type of information is incredibly valuable and insightful to the changing demographic occurring across Texas working landscapes.
The Texas Landowner Survey is an anonymous, voluntary, and confidential survey that is conducted every 5 years and covers four topic areas; including land management preferences, landowner concerns and challenges, land loss, and general landowner information.
Results from the 2017 and 2022 survey showed the top three reasons for owning land were wildlife, family, and hunting. With these stated interests, there is an indication that Texas Landowners are interested in land stewardship. Along with this, many stated that they are willing to participate in landowner programs.
Texas Landowner Survey
Another aspect of this survey addressed concerns and challenges that landowners are facing. Most of these responses included water ownership, increasing human population, invasive species, water conservation, and habitat loss or land fragmentation.
Texas Landowner Survey
Understanding results from these surveys allows organizations to provide program options and information. By improving programs to Texas landowners, there is the opportunity to improve their stewardship practices as well.
Texas lands are changing, with landowners being less economically dependent on the land than in the past, it creates an opportunity to help them better steward their land to benefit all of Texas.
For more information, be sure to read the full article here.
Lopez, A., D. Barrientos, R. Lopez, K. L. Skow, M. Crawford, J. Dreibelbis, K. B. Hays, and B. N. Wegner. 2023. Texas Landowner Survey. Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute.