Managing the Forest:

• Texas Outdoor Burn Bans - Click to see the diagram...
• The Texas Forest Service offers a "Texas Tree Planting Guide". Go to the guide...
• Purple Paint Law - Landowners may post or define the boundaries of their property by marking trees and fence posts with purple paint. In a court of law in Texas, a property boundary marked with purple paint is the same as posting "No Trespassing" signs. This also covers "No Hunting". The 'purple paint' law in Texas took effect in September of 1997. The law requires that the purple paint markings must be vertical, at least eight-inches long and one-inch wide. The bottom of the mark should be between three and five feet above the ground. The markings can be no more than 100 feet apart in timberland and 1,000 feet apart on open land, and must be in a place visible by those approaching the property.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - a program where eligible participants receive financial and technical help implementing practices to promote agricultural production and environmental quality. For more information, go to the USDA website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/

• Carbon Credit Informaton: Forest landowners can now profit from the carbon stored in their forestlands. Read more...
• Aviation Bio-fuel: The Jatropha tree, or "physic nut", is now being tested for bio-fuel. Example of current use...
• Biocrude: Pond Algae is a new source of Biocrude. Read more...

• Protecting the Big Thicket: A Landmark Conservation deal protects more than 2,800 acres next to Big Thicket National Perserve in East Texas. Read more...
• Protecting the Black Bear: A It is a violation of law to kill a black bear in Texas with fines of up to $10,000, loss of hunting privileges, and/or jail time. Hogs and Bears look alike: KNOW YOUR TARGET!
  To report a bear sighting, contact: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 800-792-1112 Read more...