EcoTexas is a nonprofit organization working to promote the integrity and sustainability of our local environment by reducing the threat of invasive species to our endemic ecosystems. To do this, EcoTexas is seeking the help of the community not only to raise awareness about the issue, but also to actively prevent the spread of invasives into our native parks and preserves. EcoTexas was founded in 2007 by a local teenager, Jordan Sessler, when he became aware of the severe and far-reaching threat posed to central Texas by invasive plant species after taking an environmental science class at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin. Today, EcoTexas continues to be driven by the efforts of several dozen teenage volunteers in Central Texas.

EcoTexas' efforts to combat the spread of non-native, invasive species are important because the spread of invasives species poses a unique threat to our environment, economy, and even public health. From an environmental standpoint, invasive species serve to invade a local environment and wreak havoc on it. In fact, 42% of endangered species in America were driven to their threatened status directly by the introduction of an invasive species. Economically, invasive species cause over $122 billion worth of damage each year in the US alone, with the pesky Brazilian Fire Ant in Texas costing upwards of $1 billion per year. Even more disturbing, invasive species cause over $36 billion in public health damage each year in the US. However, all is not lost. Over 85% of invasive plants were introduced for landscape purposes by unaware consumers, indicating that if society becomes more aware of the threat of invasive species, the introduction of such detrimental plants and animals could slow dramatically. Hence, beyond physically combating the spread of invasives (through workdays), EcoTexas is now working with local nurseries to raise awareness about the negative and positive aspects of invasive and native plants respectively, thus enabling the customer to make more informed choices.

EcoTexas hopes that our efforts to combat the threat of invasive species will prove successful since the native flora and fauna that characterizes our environment is a valuable part of what defines our home and heritage in Texas. We believe that we have an obligation to preserve it for our children and grandchildren.

Without the help of the EcoTexas sponsors, none of this would be possible.