National Wildlife Federation HQ

Over the past four decades, the NWF's work with water quality policies such as the Clean Water Act has led to much progress in cleaning up rivers and streams. Unfortunately, today we’re seeing pollution and climate change have devastating effects on our waters. The NWF remains steadfast in improving water quality and aquatic ecosystems, from small streams to vast iconic areas like the Great Lakes.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Our-Work/Waters

Early in its history, the NWF's first priority was securing the passage of an act that supported the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, pairing dedicated resources and sound scientific wildlife management. This initial victory—the 1937 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (also called the Pittman-Robertson Act)—led to the recovery of dozens of birds and mammals and propelled our work with countless conservation partners in the following decades to secure funding for sportfish, protect habitat and endangered species, and improve the quality of our water, soil, and air.

This model for conservation has had enormous successes, but many other species are suffering declines. Today the NWF and its affiliates are taking a series of critical and timely steps to not only reverse the decline of American wildlife populations, but to significantly increase their numbers over the next 30 years.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation

As our nation's population continues to grow, our environment faces increasing strain. The NWF is fighting for more assertive policies to address modern threats and restore healthy wildlife populations, from curbing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration, to protecting at-risk populations from toxic chemicals, contaminants, and non-native invaders. We’re also seeking innovative ways to solve current problems and prevent new threats from emerging.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Our-Work/Environmental-Threats

From towering forests to lush green grasslands, our nation's diverse and wondrous lands provide us with invaluable resources. Built on the foundation that our lands are part of the public trust, the NWF supports our nation’s shared interests for wildlife with the management of both public and private lands. Working closely with our partners, we are developing new strategies to manage the lands on which we live, work, and engage with nature to support healthy wildlife populations.

Nearly two-thirds of American land is used for production activities such as farming, grazing, and active forestry. We want to ensure that these activities, while vital to our economy and way of life, are better balanced with the needs of wildlife and their habitats. We are the voice that will ensure wildlife remains in the public trust.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Our-Work/Our-Lands

The NWF is growing our “big tent” of individuals and institutions taking action in support of our work for wildlife. This includes continued work with people across the political spectrum, states, cities, counties, towns, and media partners, as well as a huge collaborative cohort of agencies and organizations that have the ability to directly improve conditions for fish and wildlife.

Working in close partnership with our state and territorial affiliates, we will engage many more by 2021. This includes broader-based national conservation and environmental organizations, federal and state agencies, nature centers, museums and zoos, schools, garden clubs, civic groups, and more.

The NWF's Great American Campout connects people with the great outdoors by promoting a great American tradition: outdoor camping. In 2017, more than 200,000 Americans pledged to participate. Through this program, and through partnerships like Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), we’re introducing and reconnecting people to our rich outdoor heritage and better acquainting participants with wildlife. The NWF is deepening its partnerships with traditional supporters—such as hunters and anglers, gardeners, and tribes—and developing increased partnerships with diverse groups from across the country. One way in which the NWF is boldly leading this effort is our Women in Conservation Leadership Summit. Open to women in the conservation field, the summit arms women with tools to be more dynamic voices in their field.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Our-Work/People

The NWF unites all Americans in our shared interests for wildlife conservation. We are on the ground across the country working with communities that span geographical, ethnic, and social ties to learn about grassroots issues and take collective action.

Many of the nation's greatest environmental challenges and opportunities are found in our urban centers. The Midwest Urban Initiative, based out of the NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center, helps urban communities strengthen their capacity to address environmental concerns. Our work includes on-the-ground advocacy for policy action that benefits urban communities, like clean water access in Flint, Michigan.

We’re also reaching communities with our grassroots programs. Across the country we empower individuals and community leaders to take action for wildlife through the NWF's Garden for Wildlife and Community Wildlife Habitats™ programs.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife

The NWF has worked to connect children and youth with nature for decades, inspiring children through Ranger Rick® magazine, working with educators to get kids learning outdoors, and helping parents find new ways to engage their children outside.

Our three-year goal is to get 21 million American children, teens, and young adults out of their indoor habitat and into the great outdoors. Programs include Schoolyard Habitats, Eco-Schools USA, Earth Tomorrow, Trees for Wildlife, and Garden for Wildlife.

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kids-and-Nature

The Federation’s environmental justice program builds upon over a decade of urban initiatives, relationship building, and community engagement under the leadership of Simone Lightfoot, Associate Vice President of Environmental Justice and Climate Justice. Our work is rooted in race and social justice by design. It is underpinned by a philosophy of listening before talking, giving before asking, sharing resources, and building community and campus capacity to engage and take action. Our environmental justice work intentionally prioritizes, amplifies, and includes the policy solutions, views, and voices of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and lower wealth communities that have been impacted the most by discriminatory practices. We invest the time and cultural respect required to build authentic relationships and connect our policy and advocacy efforts to those communities challenged most immediately and seriously by climate change.