North Texas

The Trust for Public Land envisions a park within a 10-minute walk of every Dallas home, with a focus on South Oak Cliff. The Five Mile Creek Urban Greenbelt aims to connect trails and parks, backed by significant funding, benefiting the community's environment, health, and equity.

Organic gardening and wildlife experts, like Howard Garrett and Texas A&M horticulturists, advise against bagging leaves, emphasizing benefits for landscapes and wildlife. Leaves enrich soil, reduce runoff, and save costs. They recommend mowing, mulching, and composting. Wildlife relies on leaf litter for habitat, and leaving leaves supports diverse ecosystems.

Texas loses 250 rural acres daily to urban development, fragmenting habitats and endangering species. At the People for Prairies conference, advocates shared conservation tactics, raising $27,000 for outreach. Cities like Fort Worth and Lewisville are integrating prairies into urban plans. Corporate and private landowners play crucial roles in prairie conservation.

The 2022 Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Awards will honor outstanding environmental leaders on Dec. 4 at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Award recipients include Kathryn Bazan, Suzanne Tuttle and Kim Aman, among others. Tickets are $25-$35 and include garden entry. Additional "Lightscape" tickets are available.

Marshall Hinsley discusses pocket prairies, small plots planted with native Texas flora, as part of a statewide restoration effort. These prairies support native wildlife, sequester carbon, mitigate flooding, and require minimal maintenance, offering a sustainable way to restore Texas's native ecosystem.

On Oct. 28, 2022, three North Texans were recognized for promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the UN Day Global Leadership Awards. Honorees were Susie Marshall for SDG 3, Meghna Tare for SDG 4, and Gary Olp for SDG 11. Other mentions included leaders advancing various other SDGs.

Bats are often linked to mythical monsters like Dracula, yet they offer significant ecological benefits. While vampire bats exist, they mainly reside in Central and South America. In North Texas, several beneficial bat species, such as the Mexican free-tailed bat, play crucial roles in pest control and ecosystems.

DFW and DAL airports in North Texas are rivaled for sustainability. DFW, a major economic engine, achieved carbon neutrality and targets net zero carbon by 2030 through renewable energy and efficient operations. DAL, while smaller, emphasizes urban sustainability with LEED certification, EV initiatives, and recycling programs.

Dallas College's 12th Annual Sustainability Summit titled "Be the Change: Conscious Action Creates Purposeful Change" will occur on Nov. 4 at Brookhaven Campus and online. It features keynote speakers Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and Seth Godin, breakout sessions, and free admission.

Spiral Diner, a beloved Dallas vegan eatery, closed after 14 years but will open three new venues in Tarrant County: a new Spiral Diner in Arlington and two Fort Worth ventures, Maiden and Dreamboat Donuts and Scoops, offering plant-based fine dining, donuts, and ice cream in early 2023.