History and Collaborations

It all began with small acreage and big ideas. The late Ned and Genie Fritz, co-founders of Texas Land Conservancy (then the Natural Area Preservation Association), recognized the urgent need among landowners in 1982. They met people who cared deeply about conservation but lacked the tools to protect what needed protecting. As development placed increasing pressure on Texas land and water, they knew a statewide land trust was essential to preserving land of all sizes—both public and private.

Though Ned was a legend in the courtroom, he was also a self-taught naturalist whose expertise was in high demand. To hike with Ned Fritz was a bucket-list experience—and it was often how he brought policymakers on board, helping them see the natural world through his eyes.

Together, Ned and Genie gave landowners the power to preserve. Many families had held land for generations and knew their patch of nature needed saving. Without the resources and grassroots mobilization that Ned and Genie spearheaded, much of that land would have fallen into the hands of developers and ended up, as Ned used to say, “under concrete.”

Since those beginnings, Texas Land Conservancy has grown into a statewide force for conservation. By 2019, we had permanently protected our 100,000th acre. Over the past 40+ years, we’ve grown from a single staff member to a regional team serving communities across Texas and built a robust stewardship and legal defense fund to ensure the lands we protect remain preserved for generations to come.

Today, TLC brings professionalism, dedication, and collaboration to every aspect of land conservation in Texas. Together with landowners, partners, and supporters, we remain committed to finding innovative and lasting ways to protect the natural heritage of our state.