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From an early age, Jared Wood knew he had a love for nature and a passion for conservation.Born in Wichita Falls and raised in Waurika, Oklahoma, Wood regularly encountered wildlife and loved animals. He began to wonder if people were “doing enough” to protect native animals and the planet.(Ella Scott-Dean | Fort Worth Report)

Cowtown’s Next Chapter is an introduction to the Fort Worth staff managing city resources, launching community-serving programs and spearheading change across the city. The series spotlights the new faces leading city initiatives and explores their visions for their roles and department priorities.That’s when Wood’s career in conservation and nature management kicked off.“The idea of conservation, the balance of the science with what is actually practical for your community, for the public. I love that,” said Wood. “I love the idea of spending my life trying to do something that has a real difference.”Throughout his career, Wood has been at the forefront of collaborative projects in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky and Florida, where he conducted studies on an array of species and conservation genetic research.After a little over a year and a half with the city of Fort Worth, Wood is ready for his next job title: manager of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.To Wood, the nature center is the perfect place to continue research efforts, community engagement and strategic planning. The 3,000 plus acres — located in the fastest-growing large city in the country — also offer so much more than that, he said.“This place is such a gem,” Wood said. “We want this to be an outdoor classroom for anyone from young children to people doing their dissertations.” As he officially steps in as the nature center’s manager, Wood looks forward to not only amplifying the nature center’s ties to the community but restoring and tending to Fort Worth’s open spaces and wildlife. Building on research, community successesThe Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, pictured in June 2021, was envisioned by a group of environmental activists in the early 1960s. Today, it spans over 3,000 acres near Lake Worth. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)Wood brings 15 years of experience in natural resources management and conservation to Fort Worth. After receiving his doctorate degree in 2016, he took to teaching biology and eventually became the natural history museum and research director at Southwestern Adventist University in 2017.  While Wood’s hire was made official in February, he had held the title of acting manager for the nature center since May 2024, after Rob Denkhaus took a new role with the city. He was previously Fort Worth’s natural resources supervisor. Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge executive director Lynda Gearheart said the nonprofit appreciates Wood’s skills, staff management and his extensive background in nature management. “We’re just delighted to have him here,” said Gearheart. While his time with Fort Worth has been brief, the nature center in partnership with the parks and recreation department can already point to several accomplishments under Wood’s management. “He is already doing fantastic things out there,” said Friends president William Rodgers. “I think Jared is going to do a fantastic job of continuing its history of being in a space for people to get outside.”Wood and his staff have been focused on habitat restoration with help from prescribed burns, mulching and expanding native species. Fort Worth hopes to conduct more prescribed burns like the one it oversaw on Jan. 11, 2024, at Chisholm Trail Park. Burns help eliminate invasive species, restore soil nutrients and reduce wildfire risk. (Haley Samsel | Fort Worth Report)In the past year, the nature center and parks staff have burned about 700 acres to remove invasive species and bush encroachment. With help from the Friends group, the nature center raised $100,000 to go toward hiring contractors for other restoration projects, including the expansion of the nature center’s bison herd.“Through teamwork and really connecting with our private partners, we’ve been able to get the funding we desperately need to do these things,” said Wood.Also under Wood’s management, the nature center is currently working to restore its prairie dog colony which disappeared around 2015. This restoration project kicked off in August 2024, when staff relocated 90 black-tailed prairie dogs from Canyon, near Amarillo, to the nature center.But what he’s most proud of is the center’s recent American alligator population study.“A lot of people aren’t aware that there are alligators in Fort Worth. So we wanted to say, ‘OK, this is an important species that lives here. What’s going on with the population? So we can inform the public,’” said Wood.Rodgers said Wood has a great vision for the nature center moving forward.“I think there’s some great upgrades that Jared has in focus that are just going to provide more opportunities for people to come enjoy,” said Rodgers.Partnerships, collaborations a priority for the nature centerSince late 2024, Fort Worth leaders have discussed the idea of handing off management of the nature center to the nonprofit Botanical Research Institute of Texas. BRIT already manages the city-owned Fort Worth Botanic Garden as part of a 2020 agreement approved by Fort Worth City Council.To Wood, he believes the city and the nature center’s goals are perfectly aligned. “I am really excited about any partnership that enhances the nature center in a sustainable way,” said Wood. “The Fort Worth Botanic Garden has been enhanced since BRIT assumed management, so we’re really excited about what they can offer the nature center as a potential partner.”Community and civic engagement is top of mind for Wood. A public-private partnership could help push that effort forward. Mayor Mattie Parker speaks at the opening of the Marty Leonard Lotus Marsh Boardwalk on April 22, 2024, at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)“We want to be a resource to our citizens that use the nature center. … By doing a public-private partnership, I think it opens us up to a lot more opportunities,” said Wood. With help from collaboration, Wood says Fort Worth can also expect to see continued research, changes to the nature center and more restoration initiatives. City officials have prioritized acquiring open space, including around the nature center, as part of Mayor Mattie Parker’s Good Natured initiative, which seeks to preserve 10,000 acres of open space by 2028.“There have been hopes and dreams at the nature center for many years,” said Wood. “We have support from the city to do these research projects. … I’m going to fully explore and grasp any opportunity that we have.”As the nature center takes on more restoration projects, Wood also looks forward to including more “citizen science” and help from the community. Not only can community members volunteer for projects, but the nature center wants public input regarding its future. Nature center staff will soon pursue a new master plan, according to Wood. Residents will be encouraged to voice their opinions, but as for initial ideas, the master plan will touch on enhanced recreational and educational opportunities, additional conservation initiatives and fostering a connection with the community. “Everyone in North Texas should know about the nature center. … It’s so special. So you’re going to see a real intentional effort to connect to the public,” said Wood. “This place does not exist into the future, with the growth that Texas is experiencing, without public buy-in.”Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.