New PBS Docuseries Adventures Through Protected Texas Lands and Waters

This Earth Month, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Daytripper are releasing a three-part series, underwritten by H-E-B, titled “Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas.” Daytripper host Chet Garner takes audiences on an unforgettable adventure through TNC’s protected landscapes. He travels from rugged West Texas mountain peaks to expansive grasslands and marshy coastal shores. Along the way, Chet showcases the state’s unique plants and wildlife, as well as TNC’s conservation efforts and partnerships. The series will air statewide in April on all local PBS stations. It will also be available on the PBS streaming app.

“Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas allowed us to visit some of the most amazing places in Texas and to meet people who are making a real difference for conservation,” said Daytripper host Chet Garner. “Folks will love traveling with us across wildly diverse landscapes and learning the solutions shaping the future of our state’s biggest environmental challenges.”

Episode one features TNC’s nature preserves and partner efforts in West Texas. Chet climbs up the sky island at Davis Mountains Preserve and observes an endangered fish species only found at Diamond Y Spring Preserve. He visits with ranchers about their conservation efforts and astronomers about efforts to protect the area’s iconic dark skies.

Episode two features the heart of Texas landscapes, its sweeping grasslands. Grasslands are one of the most endangered landscapes in North America, and a conservation priority at TNC. Chet visits TNC’s Texas grassland preserves, connecting the dots between Blackland Prairie, coastal prairie and desert grasslands. This episode highlights land management with prescribed fire, an Indigenous rancher’s efforts to reintroduce bison back to grasslands and TNC’s work on private lands to reintroduce critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chickens.

Episode three features the ever-essential conservation priority—freshwater. Water is central to sustaining life in Texas, and this limited resource is facing unprecedented strain. In this episode, Chet travels to many TNC preserves to see solutions in action. A few stops on his route include diving into the protection of water in the desert at Independence Creek Preserve, the flow changes implemented in the bald cypress swamps of Caddo Lake and the importance of threatened mussels found at Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary.

“This new series really captures the spirit of our efforts and collaborations to protect Texas lands and water,” said Dan Snodgrass, director of land protection and stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. “Chet’s storytelling skills spotlight our partners and projects in a unique, engaging way—we’re excited for more Texans to see why conservation matters and learn how they can get involved.”