Not all public bodies are created equal. Some have a broader scope than others.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, for example, is one of the largest. TPWD is responsible for state parks and natural areas in Texas, as well as functions such as conservation, wildlife protection, and law enforcement.
In January 2023, the department’s executive director, Carter Smith, plans to retire. He will be replaced by David Yoskowitz, currently executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Yoskowitz spoke to the Texas Standard about the challenges he thinks the agency will face in the future.
This transcript has been slightly edited for clarity:
Texas Standard: What attracted you to this job in the first place?
David Yoskowitz: Well, you know, the work we do here at the Harte Research Institute is really driven by science and creating workable solutions. But the one thing we really miss is being able to be the performer because we’re in an academic institution. And so for me, personally and professionally, to be able to complete this arc and end up in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, to be in this agency that can make these solutions happen, was really a great opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up. And I’m happy to take on the role.
The TPWD has quite a large umbrella with many different functions under its control. What do you see as your top priorities for the agency once you take the reins?
Well, you know, we’re entering the next legislative session, and we want to make sure the department is able to fulfill its mission of managing and conserving our cultural and natural resources, not just today, but for the ‘coming. . And so I keep talking about the future because I’m thinking about 2050 when there will be 25 million more Texans here. And we have to plan now for the people who will be here – and the visitors, all the hundreds of thousands of people who come to Texas every year because they want to visit our cultural and natural resources.
You put your finger on something that has been a sore point for many people who have taken advantage of the incredible resources of Texas state parks: over the past few years, they have had a lot of company in these parks. In fact, there have been news stories about how they are loved to death and the state could use more of that. Is it something that’s on your radar?
Absolutely. I mean, more and more people want to be outdoors; we saw that during the pandemic, right? I mean, people needed to get out. They needed to engage with the outside. State parks, national parks, city parks were really crowded – which is great; we want people to do it. But, you know, as the population increases, we want to make those opportunities even greater for everyone. It is therefore a priority for the department to examine this for the future. You know, it’s going to be a challenge. I mean, the reality is that those extra 25 million people are going to need a place to live, and the earth is going to start sinking. And we need to plan for these future state parks today.
You talk about development there – it would have real implications for resources like water and wildlife, not to mention possible new park space. What do you think is the role of TPWD in managing this tension between natural space and development? There’s a lot of pressure right now.
There is a lot of pressure. And one of the things is that we at Texas Parks and Wildlife believe that the natural economy is a huge driver for the state. So we want to make sure that these resources are in excellent condition. And we also want to make sure that the Texas economy continues to grow in all of its business aspects. So there is a balance. And, you know, that’s always been the case for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I’m an economist by training, so I really want to continue this philosophy that we can have both. But you have to work a lot with external stakeholders, internal stakeholders to get there.
I have to ask, since I have the future head of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife here: Do you have a favorite state park?
Oh, you can’t do this to me. OK. I love Davis Mountain State Park. Of course, where I am, a few miles away, Mustang Island State Park. I mean, they’re all so unique, right? They are all so unique. And they all offer something different. So, yes, I appreciate them all – the ones that I have been able to visit. I still have a lot to visit too.
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