Pathway
Our air, our water, our future
Climate, environment, and sustainability in Greater Houston.
Houston has more petrochemical infrastructure than almost any U.S. metro. The communities closest to it breathe different air.
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The Journey
Your Journey in Planet
93 resources across 5 levels of engagement
ArticleGood Stories About Animals and People Who Help ThemGood Good Good is a website that shares positive news stories about animals and the people who care for them. The site features many heartwarming stories, like mini therapy horses bringing joy to lonely seniors, and wildlife-sniffing dogs that can detect hidden trafficked animals with 98% accuracy using just air samples. Other stories include a judge who ruled that dogs are legally considered 'immediate family,' divers discovering a new underwater species that looks like a panda, and a critically endangered parrot making a comeback thanks to berries. The site also covers how Indigenous communities in Bolivia have helped protect nearly 1 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, and how incarcerated men are helping rehabilitate injured squirrels and baby possums in prison. There are stories about rescue dogs helping find lost pets and a rare kitten with 4 ears bringing attention to pets with disabilities. The website aims to celebrate positive news about animals making a difference for people and people making a difference for animals. It also promotes awareness of special days like Jane Goodall Day for climate action.
ArticleHouston Wilderness Environmental Programs Help Communities & NatureHouston Wilderness runs several big programs to protect and restore nature around Houston and the Gulf Coast. Their main projects include: 1) The Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan, which brings together businesses, environmental groups, and government to protect 10 different ecosystems across 13+ counties. 2) The Super Trees for Sustainability Initiative, which plants native trees to fight pollution, flooding, and extreme heat. 3) The Houston Ship Channel TREES program, aiming to plant 1 million native trees along the 25-mile ship channel by 2030. 4) The Riverine Buyouts program, which buys flood-prone homes and turns them into natural areas with trees and wetlands. 5) The Great Green Quest, which gives thousands of students wilderness passports to explore outdoor spaces. These programs help clean air and water, reduce flooding, store carbon, provide wildlife habitat, and cool down hot urban areas. Houston Wilderness works with many partners including health departments, schools, businesses, and local governments to make the Houston region more resilient to climate change while protecting its diverse natural areas like coastal prairies, forests, wetlands, and waterways.
ArticleLearn About the Piney Woods Forest Near HoustonThe Piney Woods is a special forest area located 50 miles north of Houston. The Sam Houston National Forest covers 163,037 acres across Montgomery, Walker, and San Jacinto counties. This forest is home to loblolly and shortleaf pine trees on ridgetops, with hardwood trees along creek channels. The area provides habitat for endangered species like the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bald Eagles. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, bird watching, and horseback riding. The forest includes the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail, which is the longest continuous hiking trail in Texas. The Piney Woods is part of what was once a huge pine forest that stretched from East Texas through Mississippi. Popular wildlife includes deer, squirrels, quail, and doves. The forest drains into the San Jacinto River and Lake Livingston. Winter and spring are the best times to visit because of the mild weather. This ecosystem is important for conservation and provides many outdoor recreation opportunities for Houston area residents.
ArticleBig Thicket: Texas's Amazing Nature PreserveThe Big Thicket is one of Texas's most important nature areas, covering over 113,000 acres in East Texas. Called an 'American ark' and 'the biological crossroads of North America,' this special place is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals. Over 1,300 types of plants grow here, along with 300 bird species, 86 reptiles and amphibians, and 60 mammals. The area includes swamps, forests, plains, and dry hills all in one place, creating perfect conditions for this amazing biodiversity. Established as a National Preserve by Congress in 1974, the Big Thicket attracts over 255,000 visitors each year who come to hike, camp, bird-watch, fish, and explore nature. The preserve includes nine land units and six water units with over 300 miles of waterways. Visitors can see everything from orchids to cactuses, beech trees to bald cypress, and roadrunners to alligators. The area has deep historical importance too - it was once underwater millions of years ago and was home to giant sloths and mastodons 10,000 years ago. Today, Alabama and Coushatta tribes live on a 4,300-acre reservation in the area. Houston Wilderness promotes this and nine other ecoregions around Houston to help people learn about and protect these natural treasures.
ArticleHouston's Ten Nature Areas ExplainedHouston sits in one of the most nature-rich big cities in America. The area has ten different ecoregions - special areas with unique plants, animals, and environments. Seven are on land: Big Thicket forests, Piney Woods, Trinity and Columbia river bottoms, Prairie grasslands, Post Oak Savannah, and Bayou Wilderness. Three are water-based: Coastal Marshes, Gulf of Mexico, and Estuaries and Bays. Each ecoregion has different types of soil, plants, and wildlife that make Houston's nature special. Houston Wilderness is a group that brings together businesses, environmental groups, and government to protect these ten areas. They teach people about local nature, solve environmental problems, and work to save these important places. You can learn more about each ecoregion, download guides about local soil and biodiversity, and find out about native trees that help the environment. The organization also offers volunteer opportunities for tree planting and hosts events to connect people with Houston's natural world.
ArticleTrinity Bottomlands: Houston's Hidden Wetland ParadiseThe Trinity Bottomlands is a 25,000-acre wetland forest along the Trinity River that serves as one of Houston's most important wildlife areas. This special place is home to over 275 bird species, 650 different plants, and nearly 1,000 types of butterflies and moths. The area includes cypress swamps, oxbow lakes, and hardwood forests that provide crucial habitat for migrating birds along the Central Flyway. Visitors can enjoy activities like birdwatching, fishing, hiking, and boating at sites like Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Houston Wilderness Park. The bottomlands stretch from San Jacinto County to Chambers County, with the heart located in Liberty County. This ecosystem is vital for Houston's water supply, as over 22 reservoirs around the Trinity River provide much of the city's water. The area supports endangered species like Bald Eagles and Brown Pelicans, and offers excellent opportunities to see wildlife like alligators, white-tailed deer, and rare bat colonies. Houston Wilderness, a partnership of businesses, environmental groups, and government agencies, works to protect this and nine other local ecosystems through education and conservation efforts.
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The elected leaders, organizations, and funders working on planet
Organizations Doing This Work
Berkeley Food Network
This organization helps people in Berkeley find fresh, healthy food in their neighborhood. They connect families to local food sources like farmers markets and food programs.
Ford Foundation
Works to reduce poverty, injustice, and inequality with active grantmaking in Texas.
EARTHshare Texas
Please join us in supporting dozens of environmental and conservation projects protecting Texas.
Ecology Center
The Ecology Center teaches people how to take care of our planet and environment. They help communities learn about nature, recycling, and how to keep the air and water clean for everyone.
Friends of Five Creeks
This group helps take care of Houston's creeks and waterways so they stay clean and healthy. They bring people together to learn about and protect the streams that flow through our neighborhoods.
Houston Endowment
Serves Greater Houston by investing in public education, civic engagement, arts and culture, and greenspaces.
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Get Involved
Park Cleanup Day
Help clean up a local park
Mar 15Virtual
Tree Planting Event
Plant trees to make Houston greener
Mar 22Virtual
Community Garden Helper
Help maintain a community garden
Mar 1Virtual
Disaster Response Volunteer
Help neighbors during emergencies like floods
Jun 1Virtual
Food Rescue Driver
Pick up and deliver donated food
Feb 1Virtual
Beach Cleanup
Help clean up Galveston beaches
Apr 20Virtual
Available Services
Policies & Legislation
Active
Houston's Plan to Fight Climate Change and Keep Our City Safe
Houston has a smart plan to make our air cleaner and protect neighborhoods ...
H.R. 5376Active
New Law Helps Houston Families Save Money on Energy and Medicine
A new federal law gives Houston families tax credits to help pay for clean ...
HR 1077Pending2w ago
STEAM Act
This federal bill supports STEAM education — science, technology, engineeri...
HR 2074Introduced
POWER Act
The POWER Act is a federal bill that would invest in water infrastructure i...
HR 2709Pending1w ago
Save Our Sequoias Act
This federal bill funds efforts to protect giant sequoia trees from wildfires and disease, preserving some of America's oldest living things.
HR 2768Pending2w ago
Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2025
This federal bill directs a study on creating a new national scenic trail along the Benton MacKaye route, expanding outdoor recreation opportunities.
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Climate ActionClean EnergyAir QualityWater QualityRecyclingCompostingWaste ReductionTree PlantingWildlife ConservationGreen SpacesSustainable AgricultureLocal Food SystemsEnvironmental JusticeClean TransportationEnergy EfficiencyOcean ConservationLand ConservationFlood PreventionPollution ControlAnimal WelfarePet ServicesClimate ResilienceSustainable LivingUrban Heat IslandsGreen BuildingSolar EnergyRain GardensWetland PreservationBayou RestorationEnvironmental EducationPlastic ReductionE-Waste RecyclingBrownfield CleanupFood Waste ReductionWater ConservationNative PlantsRenewable Energy PolicyPetrochemical SafetyEnvironmental MonitoringClimate EducationGreen JobsCircular EconomyEnvironmental AdvocacyUrban Farming