CONSERVATION ACTIVIST - Brandon Belcher
Description of Individual or Organization
Brandon Belcher is North Texas Preserves Manager for The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Properties under his management include Clymer Meadow Preserve (the most important remaining parcel of Blackland Prairie) County Line Prairie, Cowleech Prairie and more. He oversees the management of Parkhill Prairie for Collin County Open Space. He also helps manage prairies owned by Native Prairies Association of Texas (Paul Mathews Prairie, Mary Talbot Prairie, and Talbot Brothers Prairie) where TNC holds the conservation easements. He has bachelor of science and masters of science degrees from Texas A&M-Commerce where he is an adjunct instructor in the Biological and Environmental Sciences Department.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Brandon Belcher is without a doubt the most important Blackland Prairie activist in North Texas. With less than 1 percent of that ecosystem remaining, this is a vitally important task. Cheerful and helpful, hundreds depend on his incredibly deep knowledge of prairies. His guided tours of Clymer Meadow are so popular that pre-Covid TNC had to set up second spring trip plus a fall one. He is a dependable and educated resource for many journalists who write about the outdoors.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
Brandon Belcher teaches the prairie curriculum for North Texas and Blackland Prairie chapters of Texas Master Naturalists (TMN). He is also a frequent speaker at Texas Master Naturalist, Native Plant Society of Texas and Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) chapters. All these chapters depend on his Clymer Meadow guided tours to educate their members. Through these talks, he has raised tremendous awareness of prairies and their plight, motivating and training generations of prairie activists. Extensively trained in prescribed fire practices, he leads and participates in prescribed fires on TNC and NPAT properties and has also been part of wildfire fighting teams.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
Brandon Belcher goes well beyond the requirements of his position with TNC. He frequently tutors high school and college students in prairie reclamation. He is willing to talk with just about any group that asks, often driving hours to do so. Beyond the full-time schedule he spends on TNC’s North Texas preserves, he is extremely helpful to NPAT, often showing up on weekends to help.
Other reasons for your nomination
Brandon's position is critical to for the ecological health of Clymer Meadow and the many Blackland Prairie parcels he manages.
