IMAGES FOR CONSERVATION: A picture is worth a thousand 
words ... and even more in ecotourism dollars ... we'll 
explain on Passport to Texas.
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

If a picture is worth a thousand words, just imagine how 
much it's worth in ecotourism dollars. That's the premise 
behind the Images for Conservation Fund's Pro Tour of 
Nature Photography Contest scheduled for the Texas Hill 
Country April 1-30. Organizer, Bob Petersen:

Well, our goal - as a marketing tool to kick-start this industry - 
was to hold a photographic tournament where we are going to 
pair twenty of the world's greatest wildlife photographers with 
twenty ranch owners. :11

Ecotourism is big business. And Petersen says the contest 
intends to illustrate to landowners that by opening their 
property to wildlife watchers, including nature 
photographers, they can conserve precious habitat and 
resources, while also creating a reliable income stream.

There's about 66-million wildlife watchers, and they generate 
about 38-billion dollars in expenditures. :08

On March 18, landowners and photographers are invited 
to attend seminars at the Texas Military Institute in San 
Antonio to learn about photo ecotourism. Then later, at a 
launch party at Gallagher Ranch in Helotes, the 20 
landowners and photographers will be randomly matched 
for the contest.

So it will be a double blind draw so it's all above board. :04

Find registration information for these events at 
imagesforconservation.org.

That's our show. For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia 
Nasti.