Volunteers Plant Thousands of Trees on South Texas Refuge

Hundreds of volunteers joined to plant 20,000 seedlings on 42 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge on October 15, the 16th annual Rio Reforestation Day. All of the seedlings are native plants that will provide food, habitat, and cover for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

The refuge is continually purchasing land, much of which is former cropland that needs to be reforested. Of the 1,100 plant species native to the refuge, 40 will be planted during reforestation efforts. Refuge staff members collect seeds and grow native plants for reforestation, supplemented by seedlings grown specifically for the refuge by professional nurseries.

Scheduled in the fall because of the need for soil moisture, the annual event now generates impressive community interest, with “people waiting for the event’s announcement” each year, according to Patty Alexander, Public Outreach Specialist for the South Texas Refuge Complex. The reforestation project has also spawned local interest in landscaping with native plants.

Since 1994, reforestation day volunteers have planted 131,942 native seedlings on 552 acres, making the activity one of the largest annual volunteer work events held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information, contact Patty Alexander, South Texas Refuge Complex, (956) 784-7632.