Roel Lopez named 2025 Conservationist of the Year

Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, received the Conservationist of the Year Award from the Houston Safari Club Foundation.

The honor, awarded during the foundation’s annual convention, celebrates individuals who “exemplify a true servant’s heart for conservation” and demonstrate a lasting impact on wildlife protection and land stewardship.

Lopez’s career as a wildlife researcher and educator spans more than three decades and centers on endangered and fragmented wildlife populations, military land sustainability, and rural land trends and demographics. His extensive contributions to the fields of wildlife conservation and resource management have garnered both statewide and national recognition.

Three decades of impact

Lopez’s passion for conservation stems from his childhood experiences exploring the outdoors with his family and through the Boy Scouts of America.

“My time outdoors as a child engaging in activities like hunting and fishing instilled in me a profound appreciation for the environment,” Lopez said. “These foundational experiences ignited my passion for conservation and set the trajectory of my career.”

Throughout his distinguished career, Lopez has authored more than 190 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, published three books and secured more than 200 research grants totaling more than $60 million. His academic achievements are complemented by his service as special assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment from 2007-2009.

“This experience granted invaluable insights into national and regional environmental issues, particularly those related to the U.S. Department of Defense,” Lopez said. “The knowledge I gained in that role has been critical to advancing the Natural Resource Institute’s Military Land Sustainability Program.”

Preparing the next generation of resource stewards

Since being named head of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management in 2021, Lopez has championed interdisciplinary approaches to equip students with the knowledge, leadership skills and ingenuity needed to tackle the many modern challenges facing natural resources.

“It’s not enough that our students learn the scientific principles guiding resource management in a traditional classroom setting — they must have the opportunity to apply and practice these theories and techniques in the field,” Lopez said.

With this in mind, Lopez and department faculty are dedicated to delivering innovative coursework that encapsulates research, leadership and service in tandem with field-based experiences. 

For example, the department’s signature three-week summer field course exemplifies this philosophy, immersing all students in land management techniques, fieldwork and conservation planning. Additionally, the launch of two new undergraduate programs underscore Lopez’s commitment to address modern conservation challenges with novel approaches and technical expertise.

“Advancing conservation requires a solid foundation of science, technical skills and innovative thinking,” Lopez said. “I am thankful to be part of a department of people dedicated to providing students with that and so much more.”

A legacy of excellence

Lopez earned his bachelor’s degree in forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University and his master’s and doctorate in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A&M University.

Over his career, he has received an array of awards including the Texas A&M Regents Fellow Service Award, the Texas A&M AgriLife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Administration, the Texas Wildlife Association’s Sam Beasom Conservation Leader Award, the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Outstanding Educator Award and the 2024 Conservation Trailblazer Award by the Dallas Safari Club.

“While I am humbled and honored by the recognition I have received, I know that everything I have accomplished has only been made possible by the support of the many passionate and dedicated people I have worked with throughout my career,” Lopez said. “I look forward to continuing our journey together.”