Sweeping prairies, mountain meadows, river canyons – there are places in rural West Texas that feel timeless. And indeed, such places often retain much of their primordial character. Yet no place, however remote, is untouched by the environmental changes humans have wrought in the last century and a half.

One profound change has been the spread of non-native plants – which have displaced or disrupted native plant communities, and the wildlife that relies on them.

Protected lands aren't exempt. At Big Bend National Park, officials are charged with preserving native flora and fauna. In 2018, the park adopted a new plan for managing non-native or “exotic” plants.

In Big Bend,... Hosted by for KRTS