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Conserving the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands
through research, education, and outreach.
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Support BRI Grad Student Scholarships | |
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The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University in Alpine is raising funds to support graduate student scholarships. The fundraising goal is $50,000 with all proceeds going directly to scholarships for students working on conservation research for their master’s degree.
To kickstart the fundraiser, the Permian Basin Area Foundation has generously donated a $15,000 challenge grant, and H-E-B has also made a contribution.
“Our students are our top priority, and we’re grateful the Permian Basin Area Foundation is supporting the next generation of conservation practitioners and leaders with this challenge grant, and we appreciate H-E-B’s support as well,” said Dr. Louis A. Harveson, who is the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Director of BRI. “Our master’s students play a vital role in Trans-Pecos conservation, and scholarship funds are a critical piece of our students’ success. We’re more than halfway to our goal, and we are hopeful that through generous donations, we can hit $50,000 to benefit our students.”
BRI is a leader in wildlife and conservation research in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and is celebrating its 15-year anniversary during the 2022-2023 academic calendar year.
Students who graduate from these programs receive a master’s in Range and Wildlife Management from Sul Ross State University. These graduates gain employment with state and federal resource agencies, as well as with private consultants and ranches and as educators. Currently, BRI graduates influence wildlife management decisions on over 31 million acres in Texas, some 20% of the state’s acreage.
An assortment of BRI gifts are available for donations starting at $100 and more.
DONATE NOW
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New Endowment at BRI Supports West Texas Big Game Research | |
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BRI is pleased to announce the establishment of a new endowment fund that will support big game research into the future. John L. Nau, III, who lives in Houston, made a $400K gift to honor his daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Parker Johnson (pictured here).
Nau was the inaugural recipient of the West Texas Conservationist of the Year award in 2022 and is a longtime supporter of the Borderlands Research Institute. Parker Johnson is also active in conservation circles, and currently serves on the board of both the Borderlands Research Institute and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.
The corpus of the endowment will remain untouched, to grow over time. Earnings from the endowment will be used to support academic salaries and program support for a graduate student focused on big game research at the Borderlands Research Institute.
“We are honored by this gift that will support the important big game research being conducted by Borderlands Research Institute staff and students,” said Parker Johnson. “It is especially fitting that this gift comes during BRI’s fifteenth anniversary year. In a relatively short amount of time, BRI has become a critical resource for West Texas landowners and land managers.”
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Project Spotlight: Scaled Quail
and Oil and Gas Development
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A scaled quail that shares its home with oil and gas development perches in front of a pumpjack in the Permian Basin of West Texas. Photo by Jason Brooks, a ConocoPhillips wildlife biologist. | |
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How quail react to oil and gas development is largely understudied. Their role as prey species and seed dispersers in the ecosystem, their contribution to conservation revenue through game bird hunting, and the declining state of their populations highlight the importance of advancing this area of research.
In West Texas, scaled quail's range completely overlaps with the continuously developing Permian Basin. Historically, scaled quail populations in West Texas were more widely distributed, but their populations have been in decline since the early 1960s. This is likely due to a combination of land use changes that result in desertification and woody brush encroachment, rangeland deterioration from overgrazing, frequent drought conditions, and disease.
West Texas landscapes where scaled quail reside have transformed from luxuriant grassland savannas interspersed with shrubs to shrubland savannas dominated by woody species such as mesquite, tarbush, whitethorn acacia, and creosote bush, among many others. A healthy shrub canopy in conjunction with an intact native herbaceous understory are important for scaled quail ecology.
READ MORE
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BRI Student Spotlight: Brooke Bowman | |
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Brooke Bowman appreciates the full circle moments in her life.
She is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Range and Wildlife Management at the Borderlands Research Institute. A childhood trip to Yellowstone National Park with her family kindled Brooke’s interest in wildlife, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Texas in Austin.
Her internship experiences confirmed her career choice, and also the need to earn a master’s degree. She’s gained work experience as she pursued her studies, and in early 2023, she applied for what she considers a dream job: a common loon technician for the Ricketts Conservation Foundation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
“I feel so lucky and so blessed to be able to be working in the place that made me want to pursue conservation in the first place,” said Brooke.
Back in Texas, Brooke is focused on finishing up her master’s thesis.
“My project is looking at habitat selection and movement of scaled quail in the Permian Basin on an oil and gas field.”
Brooke hopes to defend her thesis in late 2023. As she prepares for the next step in her life and career, she’s grateful for her experiences at the Borderlands Research Institute.
“I’ve learned so much here, and especially how science comes full circle. I’ve learned that to be successful, I need to be able to do the analysis and the research and know how to write. BRI has helped me push a lot of boundaries, and I feel like I am a more well-rounded scientist now, ready for the next step in my career.”
READ MORE
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The Borderlands Research Institute is marking 15 years since its founding, and there’s a lot to celebrate.
In our latest podcast, Dr. Louis Harveson, Dr. Carlos Gonzalez and Dr. Justin French reflect on the evolution of BRI’s students, faculty and research projects.
LISTEN
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Black Bear Film Screening in Alpine | |
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Driven out of Texas in the 1900s, black bears have gradually returned to their historic habitat—and Borderlands Research Institute and West Texas ranchers are working to find out why. Their efforts are chronicled in a short film called Second Chance, which follows conservationists, researchers, and ranchers as they study, observe, and celebrate the incredible comeback of this magnificent animal. The film is presented by H-E-B in partnership with Fin & Fur Films as part of a five-part docuseries that was released this week.
There will be a free screening of the film at 7pm on August 25 at the Granada Theatre in Alpine.
BRI researchers will be on hand for a Q&A with the audience after the screening.
H-E-B proudly presents Our Texas, Our Future Films: A five-part original docuseries celebrating Texas' beautiful State Parks, resilient wildlife, and the Texans helping conserve and protect them. These films are created in partnership with Fin & Fur Films, and feature narration and original music by native Texan Shane Smith of Shane Smith and the Saints.
LEARN MORE
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