Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas Gulf Coast is one of four grant recipients announced this week by Walmart’s Acres for America program. The program is considered to be one of the most effective public-private partnerships in the history of U.S. conservation efforts and was established in 2005 by the Arkansas based retail giant in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Program goals are to conserve lands of national significance, protect critical fish and wildlife habitat and benefit people and local economies.

Acres for America began as a 10-year, $35 million commitment by Walmart to purchase and preserve one acre of wildlife habitat in the United States for every acre of land developed by the company. The program has protected critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife and has funded 59 projects in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The 2014 grants total $2,325,000, and will leverage an additional $82,936,000, for a total conservation investment of more than $85 million.

In August 2014, a multi-partner coalition announced the purchase of the 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch along the Texas coast in Calhoun County. The acquisition conserves a spectacular piece of property that is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie in the state and represents the largest conservation investment in Texas history. In years to come, Powderhorn Ranch is expected to become a state park and wildlife management area. Project partners include The Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Foundation, NFWF, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The TPW Foundation is spearheading the fundraising for the $50 million project, which includes the purchase of the property, habitat restoration and management, as well as a long-term endowment. The $525,000 grant announced this week will go toward land acquisition costs.

“We’re thrilled at the announcement of this generous $525,000 grant, “said Anne Brown, executive director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. “Walmart’s Acres for America program underscores the necessity of public/private partnerships in funding transformational conservation projects that will benefit all citizens. Powderhorn Ranch is an investment that will benefit the communities nearby and the entire State of Texas. It exemplifies Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates.”

With the Acres for America grant, $43.5 of the $50 million needed for the project has been raised. Additional contributions are welcome and interested donors can contact Anne Brown at the TPW Foundation for more information at 214-364-5632 or abrown@tpwf.org.

The other projects funded by the 2014 Acres for America grant are the Hood Canal Landscape Conservation Initiative in Washington, the Lost Coast Redwood and Salmon Initiative in California and the Coastal Headwaters Forest Longleaf Conservation and Restoration project in Alabama and Florida.

For more information about the Acres for America 2014 recipients:http://www.nfwf.org/whoweare/mediacenter/pr/Pages/acres-pr-14-1112.aspx

For more information about Powderhorn Ranch: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/news_roundup/powderhorn_ranch/