Mission

The Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) is a nonprofit membership organization and an accredited land trust. Our mission is dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas.

We protect prairies through acquisition, partnerships, and conservation easements. NPAT has conserved more than 5,000 acres of native Texas prairie, including 1,340 acres of endangered tallgrass prairie. NPAT-owned properties include Maddin Prairie Preserve near Colorado City, Lawther-Deer Park Prairie in Deer Park, Talbot Brothers Preserve and Mary Talbot Prairie near New Boston, Riesel Prairie near Marlin, Paul Mathews Prairie near Greenville and the Dowell Ranch near Austin.

We restore native prairie on our own lands, work with our landowners to restore their lands, and promote restoration on other private and public lands to benefit the native plant communities, pollinators, grassland birds and other prairie wildlife of Texas. We share informational resources and advice on restoration. Maddin Prairie Preserve, conservation easements at Daphne Prairie near Mount Vernon and the Kirchoff Family Farm near Floresville host regular restoration and workshop activities.

We teach about the prairie and its value through our chapter efforts, workshops, presentations, field trips and many types of volunteer opportunities.

A Shell Oil Company Education Grant funds the Director of Education at Lawther-Deer Park Prairie. Director Della Barbato works with Houston area students, teachers and naturalists to expand awareness of coastal prairies. Currently NPAT has three established chapters in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas. Chapters are forming in the Central Texas and San Antonio areas.

NPAT is a 501(c)(3) organization, and your membership and contributions are fully tax-deductible to the amount allowed by law.

Our History

NPAT was founded in 1986 by a group of Texans concerned greatly about our disappearing prairie heritage, especially Texas’ endangered tallgrass prairies.

For a personal history of the founding of NPAT, written by past president, Kunda Wicce, read more.

.We’d love to hear more stories about your history with NPAT!

Banner image: Perennial paintbrush at Clymer Meadow by Lisa Spangler.