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UN Biodiversity Conference COP16 Marks Major Wins for Indigenous Peoples, Falls Short on Climate Finance January 10, 2025 Posted in: Conservation, Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife The U.S. is one of only 17 countries across the globe classified as a megadiverse country; it is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Despite this, the U.S. did not get a vote at the United Nations (UN) biodiversity negotiations this year. While all eyes were on the upcoming UN Framework Convention on… 
From Advocacy to Exploration: Youth Advocates in the California Central Coast January 7, 2025 Posted in: Conservation, Environmental Justice, Students and Nature The California Central Coast is a prime example of a beautiful ecosystem, featuring abundant natural resources, picturesque coastlines, and a diverse array of native and endemic species. From the Chumash marine sanctuary to the Channel Islands, communities have lived in and enjoyed this abundance of resources and its rich history. But like many communities, the… 
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Garden December 20, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Get Outside, People and Wildlife The new year is a fantastic time for making meaningful resolutions and doing some garden planning! This year, we’re sharing five great New Year’s resolutions for your very own wildlife garden. Choose one to commit to this year or make your own and share it with us! 1. Turn an Area of Turf Grass into… 
In the “Endangered Species Capital of the World,” A Win for Hawaiian Seabirds December 12, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Out of the darkness on a high volcanic slope, a haunting chorus of wails and shrieks pierces the night sky. This is the enigmatic call of the Hawaiian petrel, or ‘Ua‘u, an iconic member of Hawai‘i’s natural heritage. Once common across the islands, human activities have driven these birds—like so many native Hawaiian species—to the… 
Raising Youth Voices at the IUCN U.S. Regional Conservation Forum December 12, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Only seven hands went up, when a room filled with over 100 conservationists was asked “Who here is under the age of 35?” Conservation leaders from around the country flew to Conservation International’s headquarters to attend the IUCN’s U.S. Regional Conservation Forum. Standing at the front of the room, my hand was one of the… 
United States Proposes Listing Monarchs as a Threatened Species December 11, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts This December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed a listing of the North American migratory monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. So, what does that new potential listing mean for the monarch butterfly? Read along as we unpack the significance of this listing and what you can do to help… 
TCTAC Partner Spotlight: Centro de Apoyo Familiar’s Transforming Communities Conference December 9, 2024 Posted in: Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife For those based in the Mid-Atlantic area, here is an organization that you might want to keep an eye on: Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF). Founded in Massachusetts in 2006, this organization has spent almost 20 years supporting low-income and immigrant families, providing essential services like housing counseling, food distribution, workforce development, and environmental health… 
Reconnecting Louisiana’s Maurepas Swamp to the Mississippi River: A Restoration Milestone December 9, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Picture this: ancient cypress trees rising like sentinels from quiet, dark waters. Bright yellow Prothonotary Warblers flit through the canopy, and alligators glide silently below. Louisiana’s Maurepas Swamp is not only one of the largest forested wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico, but is home to some of the state’s most iconic wildlife and a… 
Nature-Based Solutions Needed to Combat Appalachia’s Growing Flood Risks December 6, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation. Read parts one, two, and three. Boone County was once West Virginia’s premier coal producing county. Coal extraction in Boone increased from six million tons in 1950… 
Flood Mapping for Appalachia December 6, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation. Read parts one, two, and four. Across many parts of the U.S., flooding is becoming more frequent and more severe due to climate change. Which means flood… 
Low-Income Appalachians Face Flood Recovery Challenges December 6, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation. Read parts one, three, and four. Hurricane Helene highlighted the devastation that flooding can have on rural communities, and underscores the new normal of flood risk in… 
Appalachia Governments Need More Assistance to Combat Flood Risks December 6, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, and the National Wildlife Federation. Read parts two, three, and four. Jenkins, Kentucky, is a fairly small town. Mayor Todd DePriest knows most of the approximately 1,800 residents directly, and they know… 
Bringing Responsible Offshore Wind Development to the Port of Long Beach December 4, 2024 Posted in: Clean Energy Launching a new energy industry like floating offshore wind on the West Coast comes with a number of challenges. Among these is that a multitude of projects and procedural steps must be fully funded, completed, and conditions met on time to ultimately generate and transmit clean energy to the grid. If any part of that… 
Using Fire to Fight Fire December 2, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife 2024 has been yet another brutal wildfire season in the United States, with 8.1 million acres burned so far this year. This is no coincidence—warmer, drier conditions resulting from climate change are resulting in larger and more severe fires, particularly in the western United States. As threats increase to communities and wildlife in the path… 
Why the 2024 Farm Bill Can’t Wait November 27, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife The Farm Bill is a multi-year legislative package that touches on many aspects of farm policy, including support for farmers to adopt sustainable practices that promote wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation, and carbon sequestration. It is reauthorized about every five years and Congress passed the most recent Farm Bill in 2018. With billions of… 
Musing in Missoula: Reflections of an AmeriCorps Member November 25, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, People and Wildlife, Students and Nature 2024 was a year of pulling cheatgrass, traveling to Lowe’s to exclusively purchase concrete and stacks of terra cotta planter bases, tabling through direct sun and pouring rain, and enjoying every minute! My name is Eliza Lindley, and I was this year’s AmeriCorps member serving at NWF’s Northern Rockies, Prairies, and Pacific office. My role… 
Bat Week in Missoula November 25, 2024 Posted in: People and Wildlife, Wildlife Facts Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na, BAT WEEK! In case you’ve been missing out, we’re here to inform you that there is an international celebration every fall focusing the spotlight on bats and their importance in our ecosystems. This year, Bat Week took place from… 
Small Steps, One Chair at a Time: 2024 Furniture Scorecard November 25, 2024 Posted in: Deforestation In today’s world, with the climate crisis and climate anxiety on the rise, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, one powerful way to make a difference is making more informed decisions about everyday purchases. Small steps can add up, and one area where our choices can have a big impact is in the… 
Wires and Wildlife: Transmission Development and the Benthos Report November 25, 2024 Posted in: Clean Energy, People and Wildlife The Biden Administration established a national target of generating 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030—enough to power 22,500,000 homes— and 100 GW by 2050—enough to power 75,000,000 homes. Interconnecting these offshore wind projects to the onshore power grid will require robust transmission development—building a substantial amount of new infrastructure and expensive upgrades to… 
Efforts Underway to Restore Longleaf Pine at Fort Valley State University November 22, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is launching a new project with the National Wildlife Federation’s Southeast Forestry team in Georgia to conduct longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. This initiative is one of many to promote forest management and stewardship in partnership with collegiate entities within the Southeast forested landscape. This past September, the FVSU project team… 
Wires and Wildlife: Transmission Development and Western Migratory Species Report November 20, 2024 Posted in: Clean Energy, People and Wildlife Across the western U.S., many wildlife species rely on seasonal habitats and the ability to migrate between these habitats, to reproduce, survive, and thrive. This includes ungulates (hooved mammals) such as elk and mule deer and species like the greater sage-grouse in sagebrush habitat. National Wildlife Federation advocates for migratory species while simultaneously advocating for… 
Intergenerational Solidarity Ignites Lasting Change November 19, 2024 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife When I started my job in community-led stewardship, I was expecting to be surrounded by a diversity of plants. I was much more surprised to find myself surrounded by a diversity of elders, too. While working together to pull stems and cut leaves, they offered bits of knowledge and wisdom in passing conversation. I pressed… 
Pollinators & Produce: Pollinator Habitats and Food Security in Baltimore November 14, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Get Outside The Vision For more than a decade, the National Wildlife Federation and our Baltimore community partners have been working together to build a more equitable future for wildlife and people. BLISS Meadows Farmhouse garden after installation. Credit: Lindsey Walker Our most recent project, Pollinators and Produce, has created essential wildlife habitat and enhanced sustainable, local… 
Gardening with Young Children: Developing More Than Just a Green Thumb November 8, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Students and Nature Hands-on gardening with young children has so many benefits—for the children, the adults who care for them, and the communities they live in. Incorporating gardening into early care and learning settings is a powerful strategy to support lifelong healthy eating habits and help young children learn to care for living things. Children gardening at an… 
Community Spotlight: Altgeld Gardens November 8, 2024 Posted in: Environmental Justice, Get Outside Altgeld Gardens is a Chicago neighborhood with many legacies: the deep injustice of toxic industry pollution, the home of the late Hazel M. Johnson (the Mother of environmental justice), and the center of community power working to address harm. Altgeld Gardens Toxic Tour This September, I attended a Toxic Tour of the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood… 
BOEM Leases Four Areas in the Gulf of Maine for Floating Offshore Wind Development November 4, 2024 Posted in: Clean Energy, People and Wildlife On October 29, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) successfully held the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Maine. Of the eight areas that BOEM offered for auction, Invenergy and Avangrid each won two lease areas with a total of $21.9 million in winning bids. The bids also included over $5.4… 
Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Finding the Path Forward on the Gulf Coast October 29, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized I know hurricanes. As a Coast Guard kid, I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, Outer Banks and Caribbean, and my adulthood has found me always near the water I love so much, too. I have lived the last two decades on the Gulf Coast, between New Orleans and Tampa Bay. While I have lost… 
Trick-or-Tweet October 25, 2024 Posted in: Wildlife Facts Trick-or-Tweet and Happy H-owl-o-ween! From Hitchcock’s The Birds to Poe’s The Raven, birds are undeniably spooky. While bats are an obvious animal to associate with Halloween, the trope of dark shadows ominously flitting across the sky could also apply to feathered fliers. Don’t be bird-brained—keep reading to learn some chilling facts about four of the… 
Washington’s Forests and Wildlife Need You to Vote NO on I-2117 October 23, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, Deforestation, People and Wildlife “NWF is proud to join our Washington state affiliate, Conservation Northwest, to oppose Washington Initiative-2117. Attacks on state climate laws will make our efforts to address the climate crisis even more difficult. Continue reading to learn more about why NWF, Conservation NW and dozens of other community and conservation groups oppose I-2117. Please consider sharing… 
Concurrent Crises: Cancer Alley & the Fight for Environmental Justice October 17, 2024 Posted in: Environmental Justice Driving through Louisiana’s Cancer Alley, a nearly 100-mile stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the industrial landscape is impossible to ignore. Over 150 petrochemical plants, refineries, and factories dominate the horizon. The name “Cancer Alley" reflects a grim reality for the predominantly Black communities living where the Lung Cancer Center has declared as "the… 
So Last Season: The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion and Textile Waste Exports October 17, 2024 Posted in: Environmental Justice Due to a dependency on microtrends in American fashion culture, the last ten years have seen a dramatic increase in the production of single-wear garments—which has contributed to an excess of textile waste and consequent health impacts for the individuals who work in the textile manufacturing industry. By analyzing fast fashion through a climate justice… 
Learning in the Environment: The Importance of Expanding Outdoor Education Across the United States October 17, 2024 Posted in: Students and Nature As students return to school this fall, education on climate change and the environment are becoming more prevalent in the classrooms. States, including New Jersey and Connecticut, are among the latest to pass legislation requiring education on climate change. Environmental curriculum is also becoming more accessible to teachers through free climate-education websites. Outdoor education can… 
The Case for a Youth Advisory Council: Young Leaders Guiding Climate Action October 17, 2024 Posted in: Students and Nature The Climate Equity Collaborative (CEC) was created by a group of leaders in nonprofit, government, and business organizations in late 2022 to engage youth and underserved communities in accelerating equitable climate actions and solutions. As the groups’ strategies and ways of working together began to take shape, we sought to connect directly with active youth… 
Insects: Gotta Catch ‘Em All October 14, 2024 Posted in: Wildlife Facts Did you know the creator of Pokémon was an avid bug collector and amateur entomologist as a kid? His love of exploring nature and watching insects in their various life stages inspired this hit game. It should come as no shock then that entomologists all over the world are big Pokémon fans and the game… 
Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Rebeca Villegas October 10, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized Name: Rebeca Villegas Pronouns: she/her Position: National Director, Environmental Justice Strategy What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of reflection and celebration for me. An opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come as a people and pay respect to trailblazers—Latinxs that overcame adversity and paved the way… 
Hurricane Helene Highlights Appalachia’s Rising Flood Risk October 10, 2024 Posted in: Conservation The devastation from Hurricane Helene continues to unfold across the southeastern U.S. More than 200 lives lost, homes and businesses and critical infrastructure destroyed, tens of thousands still without power, a violent disruption of lives and livelihoods. Response is ongoing; recovery will take years. Helene made landfall along Florida’s western coast, causing immense damage there.… 
Wildlife Management Should Be Guided by Science, Not the Ballot Box October 8, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife There has been a troubling trend in recent years in which activists try to turn wildlife management over to voters at the ballot box. The problem with these misguided measures is that successful wildlife management should be left to wildlife biologists who base their decisions on the best available science and on observations from the… 
Climate Education Takes Center Stage at Climate Week NYC 2024 October 7, 2024 Posted in: Clean Energy, Students and Nature This year at Climate Week NYC (September 22-29, 2024) National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and its partners collaborated to address climate education through a series of events that engaged educators, student leaders, conservationists, and decision-makers. The intergenerational presentations, panel discussions, and workshops focused on how to support teachers and students in both accessing and advancing meaningful… 
Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Justin Williams October 3, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized Name: Justin Williams Pronouns: He/Him Position: National Advocacy Operations & Data Strategy Manager (Campaigns Team & Operations Team) What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? Of course it is a great opportunity to broadly celebrate the achievements, incredible impacts, and beautiful culture that Hispanic and Latinx people have contributed to the United States throughout… 
Meet the 2024 Class of NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows October 1, 2024 Posted in: Environmental Justice, Students and Nature The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is pleased to introduce the recipients of this year’s graduate student research fellowships. Each year, NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows support the advancement of NWF Education and Engagement programs through dedicated research projects. This research helps to expand the content and development of a variety of efforts across NWF's Education… 
Wild Horses of Assateague: A Naturalized Species October 1, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts Like many Americans tend to do during the summer, I made sure to hit the beach a few times. As a Marylander, there’s only so many times you can visit Ocean City. I love the boardwalk, but wanted to see something new and different. The chance of spotting a wild horse on Assateague Island was… 
Growing Support for Nature-Based Solutions September 30, 2024 Posted in: People and Wildlife Efforts to strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change continue to advance, and this year’s FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) National Competition highlights continued progress with an emphasis on nature-based solutions (NBS). On July 2, 2024, FEMA announced that 56 projects, spanning 22 states and the District of Columbia, were selected… 
Leave the Leaves to Save Fireflies! September 30, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Get Outside, Wildlife Facts If you’ve ever lived in a region with fireflies, you’re probably most familiar with them as flying insects that light up the sky with their rhythmic blinking. But did you know that most of a firefly’s life can be spent under the leaves? Fireflies as Larva Like many insects, fireflies go through multiple life stages.… 
Story Time: The Eastern Red Bat’s Blanket of Leaves September 26, 2024 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts Please enjoy this short story from the perspective of an eastern red bat settling in for winter. The autumn air was crisp and full of promise. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink, a small figure flitted silently through the trees. This was no bird, but… 
How Fallen Leaves Support Moths and Butterflies September 26, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts Amid the crunch of autumn leaves underfoot lies a hidden ecosystem where moths and butterflies find shelter and sustenance. While it might seem like clutter to some, this layer of fallen foliage is a lifeline for various species—including these important pollinators. Fallen leaves are more than just remnants of summer; they are essential components of… 
Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Abi Cano Perez September 25, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized Name: Abi Cano Perez, pronouns: she, her Position: Education and Engagement Coordinator for the Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) Initiative What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? HHM is an opportunity to learn about all of the different Latine traditions, languages, cultural practices. It is also a time to celebrate our joy and unlearn… 
QUIZ: Ocean Plastic Pollution September 25, 2024 Posted in: Conservation National Wildlife Federation teams up with LG for a campaign highlighting vulnerable and endangered species. This week, during Climate Week, LG Electronics unveiled the Galápagos Sea Lion, a marine mammal at increased risk due to plastic pollutants. The Galápagos Sea Lion is the third animal featured in its 3D anamorphic experience on its Times… 
Do You Truly Know What a Monument is? Think Again! September 24, 2024 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife National monument. What does that mean to you? It sounds like something unique and amazing to me. And in my experience, national monuments are indeed, unique and amazing. From incredible fish and wildlife habitat and stunning vistas to world class archeological sites and unique geological features, national monuments truly are some of the finest treasures… 
Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Maria Luisa Rossel September 23, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized Name: Maria Luisa Rossel, pronouns: she, her. Position: Press Secretary for Spanish language media at NWF What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to learn more about our history and contributions to the U.S. How would you describe your cultural identity? How do you identify yourself? Why?… 
A Win for Florida’s Threatened State Parks September 19, 2024 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife Last month the hard work of hundreds of thousands of citizens paid off. If you have already spoken up for Florida’s State Parks, relax and enjoy this victory in round one. You earned it! If you have yet to act, please take a moment and continue this critical effort to protect Florida’s State Parks for… 