Master Naturalists offer free help to landowners

Contributed

The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is offering a program designed for new landowners.

Volunteers with the Land Management Assistance Program assist landowners identify trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses on their property, and offer recommendations regarding land, wildlife and livestock management to help landowners accomplish their goals. According to Jim Stanley, program coordinator, this free program is available to all landowners in Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr counties.

A team of Master Naturalists will visit a landowner's property; discuss the landowner's goals, ideas and concerns; tour the property with the landowner; and write a report documenting the team's observations and recommendations. In addition, the landowner will receive information listing various state agencies and other organizations that can provide further information.

Sponsored jointly by the Texas AgriLife Extension and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Texas Master Naturalist organization "develops a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their community."

The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist consists of over 250 volunteers from Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr counties.

Over 300 Land Management Assistance visits covering over 25,000 acres have been conducted since the program began in 2005.

Landowners interested in having volunteers from the Land Management Assistance Program visit their property are asked to call Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville at 830-257-4837 and request a Master Naturalist Land Management Assistance visit.

This is a free service.