By Brandt Mannchen

December 13, 2025, the Houston and Golden Triangle Regional Groups of the Sierra Club, along with many other concerned citizens and organizations, met with the National Park Service (NPS) in the Big Sandy Creek Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP). This event was a “service outing” to restore an area so that the Longleaf Pine – Little Bluestem Savannah Ecosystem will thrive again. 

Along with NPS employees, back from the terrible shutdown of the federal government, about 50 citizens gathered for camaraderie, learned about planting Longleaf Pine and Little Bluestem with “dibble bars”, collected bags with seedlings, and within about two hours planted 1,000’s of trees and native grasses.

Water, cookies, and sandwiches were provided for lunch after the eager and now hungry forest planters completed their task.

The area had been prescribed burned so that shrubs and small trees would be reduced in number and size to allow for easier planting and better survival of plants put in the ground.  Even in this very altered landscape, some plants were growing and flowering in December (a sign of climate change) including Little Bluestem, Rose Vervain, Blue Sage, Brown-eyed Susan, and other hardy, native, plants and grasses.

It was great to see the educational information about the Longleaf Pine – Little Bluestem Savannah Ecosystem and the project we were all working to complete. 

People mingled before and after the event to talk about what they had done, renewed or began acquaintances with others, and collected a “free” blue t-shirt which said, “2025 Habitat Restoration, Big Thicket National Preserve” on the front and “I Dibbled Big Thicket, With NPCA and Friends” on the back.

This event was sponsored by Big Thicket National Preserve, 1974-2024, Community Celebration Committee; National Parks Conservation Association; Houston Zoo; Texas Conservation Alliance; Big Thicket Association; Big Thicket Biosphere Reserve; and Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust.  

It was a great day, weather was mild, and the company was fine.  It always feels good to give something back to our federal public lands.  Without citizen support, protection, and advocacy, our public lands will be sold or given away.  That’s something the Sierra Club won’t allow.  

Photo by Brandt Mannchen