Texas Forest Service
The Texas Forest Service offers many programs to educate and inform Texans of all ages about conservation.
Texas Forest Service is recognized as the leader in defining forestry of the future for Texas and the nation through its applied programs in forest and tree development; wildfire prevention, mitigation and protection; urban and community forestry and a host of other innovative forest sustainability programs. By collaborating with regional governments and forestry cooperators, some 375 Texas Forest Service employees work to ensure the state’s forests and trees are protected and continue to provide a sustainable flow of environmental and economic benefits today and for future generations. Texas Forest Service is the incident management agency for state disasters and has led the management of such incidents as the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.
| Established | 1915 |
|---|---|
| Number of Educational/Outreach Programs | 60 |
| FY 2009 Operating Budget | $55.4M |
Did You Know?
- Texas Forest Service is the first state agency in the nation to become an Authorized Verifier for Forestry Offset Projects by the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). The CCX is currently the only market that trades forestry carbon. TFS, well known for its role in protecting and sustaining the state's forest resources, was approved to verify forestry offset projects for landowners seeking to sell their trees' carbon credits on the open market.
- According to a 2008 survey conducted by TFS for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas has more than 60 million acres of forested land; 12 million of which are comprised of commercial timberland in East Texas. These counts make Texas one of the most heavily tree-covered states in the nation and the third highest timber-producing state in the south!
- Texas Forest Service is the lead agency for the state for all-hazard responses, including suppression of wildfires and the management of state disasters such as the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.
- According to TFS’ report—Houston’s Regional Forest: Structure, Functions, Values—it would cost $205 billion to replace the 633 million trees within the eight-county region around Houston. The report represents the latest effort to quantify the green infrastructure of the region and is the first report of its kind in Texas.
Agency information: (979) 458-6606 · texasforestservice.tamu.edu
