The National Forests and Grasslands of Texas (NFGT) are approximately 675,000 acres of public land in East Texas managed by
the U.S. Forest Service. There are four National Forests: Angelina National Forest (ANF), Davy Crockett National Forest (DCNF), Sabine National Forest (SNF) and Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF). As well as one National Grassland, Caddo-Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands (LBJ NG).
These are more than just recreational destinations, they are home to unique ecosystems; they provide critical habitat for rare species; they help maintain high quality drinking water; and they act as buffers against increased carbon emissions.
The Mesic Oak-Pine Forest ecosystem in Sabine National Forest, for example, is one of the few places 
where the Sabine River wake-robin (Trillium gracile, top left) can be found. SNF is also, a stopover site for migratory waterfowl (Roseate Spoonbill, bottom left) and neotropical migratory birds, including hard-to-find western and eastern bird species. Reservoirs, such as Lake Conroe, provide clean, safe drinking water to surrounding urban areas, including Houston. Protecting the areas around these reservoirs and their tributaries is the most cost effective way to ensure affordable, plentiful and in 
vegetation and in the soil. 
Plants also use carbon dioxide, a common greenhouse gas, for photosynthesis. Both attributes help in the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change. Visit our Special Places page for more extraordinary places in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas.
In Spring 2017, the Forest Service begins the four-year process of revising the Forest Plan for Texas, which will affect how our national forests and grasslands are managed for the next 10 to 15 years. Revisions to the management plan could have a positive impact on the NFGT, improving overall forest health would increase the forests’ ability to survive into the future. But the revisions could also have a negative impact and decrease their chances of survival (See What Needs to Be Done). In order to ensure that the best management decisions are being made, it is important that those who enjoy our national forests and grasslands contact the Forest Service during the public comment period, expected to be in March or April 2017, and tell the Forest Service what they love about the NFGT.
Please sign up for newsletter (in the sidebar) and visit our blog for updates on the Forest Plan revisions process.
Image Credits: Forest Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Carolyn Fannon), Charlesjsharp, U.S. Department of Energy