The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved a 2012 budget that reflects a 21.5 percent cut in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department funding over the next two years. The agency is trying to limit impacts on the public involving state parks, fisheries and wildlife, and leaders say there are ways people can help.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today approved $5.6 million in competitive grants for city and county parks across the state. Commissioners chose 12 out of 52 eligible grant requests for outdoor recreation facilities funding.

Thousands of Texas children will explore and learn more about the states’ cultural and natural resources thanks to more than $622,000 in Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

April is National Volunteer Month, and folks who love state parks, hunting and fishing in Texas have plenty tocelebrate. In 2010, volunteers provided close to 955,000 hours of service worth an estimated $16.9 million to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

On April 1, avid amateur angler Keith Miller of Waco will start a year-long commitment to catch at least one fish daily for 365 consecutive days. The goal is to build awareness of the importance of connecting young people to the outdoors and developing future stewards of natural resources. Miller will use social media to share his experiences, and he plans a series of public fishing dates to spread awareness in various cities.