The Texas Gulf Coast stretches more than 350 miles, supporting nearly 6.5 million people from Port Arthur to Brownsville. Each year, our coastal economy employs more than 3 million people, equating to a total value of $493 billion annually. But that’s not all the coast does.
Healthy coastal habitats play a big part in supporting both people and wildlife. Shallow coastal waters serve as nurseries for fish, shrimp and other marine species that fuel our fisheries and natural areas. Coastal dunes help buffer waves and reduce erosion, protecting shorelines and infrastructure. Wetlands and seagrasses store significant amounts of carbon, helping to reduce the impacts of our changing climate, while coastal prairies absorb water, reduce flooding and capture additional carbon. Oyster reefs quietly filter pollutants and improve water quality in our bays and estuaries. These interconnected habitats all form a natural shield, offering protection and strength in the face of growing environmental challenges.
Videos
Texas Gulf Coast
Conserving Texas' Coastal Grasslands Within Texas’ Refugio-Goliad Prairie, many heritage ranching operations are helping the region remain one of the most productive grasslands in North America. Watch how we’re collaborating with landowners, ranchers and other partners in this region to conserve coastal prairie for people and nature.
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Science underscores the benefits of restoring healthy coastal habitats as a cost-effective solution to protecting coastal communities from the impacts of storms, like Hurricane Harvey. A 2018 study found that large-scale oyster and wetland restoration projects could help avert more than 45% of the climate risk over a two-year period in the Gulf, saving more than $50 billion in flood damages.
Yet, as our climate continues to change, our coastal landscapes are under increasing pressure. Rising sea levels, warming waters and more frequent and intense storms—like Hurricane Harvey—are reshaping the coast and threatening the communities, businesses and species that call it home.
Though our dynamic Gulf Coast shows a remarkable ability to adapt to change, it needs our help to restore its natural functionality and ensure it can continue to protect and sustain life. Investing in coastal resilience—the ability of communities and habitats to recover quickly from major impacts—is essential to meeting these challenges. The Nature Conservancy is working across the Texas coastline to restore oyster reefs and wetlands, protect critical habitats and collaborate with partners and communities to advance science-based solutions. Together, we can ensure that nature continues to thrive and provide the benefits we all depend on.
Places We Protect
Coastal Land Protection
Safeguarding the Gulf Coast
TNC protects land through acquisitions, conservation easements and strategic assists. These efforts help safeguard critical coastal areas from development, preserve habitat for species and protect against climate impacts. With the help of partners and funders, we’re purchasing important tracts of land and ensuring the long-term protection of places that benefit both nature and communities.
Our Work
Coastal Projects and Programs
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More from Texas
In the Balance: Shaping Texas’ Water Future
TNC is collaborating with farmers and ranchers to find solutions to our water challenges, providing incentives in exchange for access to water rights and management decisions during times of drought.
A Forest Worth Fighting For
Landowner Rufus Duncan is turning passion into protection for Texas’s longleaf pine forests through a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy.
Shamrock Island Bird Rookery
One of the most important bird breeding sites in the Gulf—frequented by pelicans, ducks, reddish egrets, white-faced ibises and more—is threatened by erosion.