WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 7, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced that Walmart’s Acres for America program will help permanently protect more than 148,000 acres of wildlife habitat. announced $5.6 million through 10 grants. across nine states. The grant leverages $107.3 million in public and private matching funds for a total conservation impact of $112.9 million. The Acres for America program is a nearly 20-year partnership between NFWF and Walmart.
Projects supported by the 10 grants announced today will permanently protect nationally important wildlife habitat, increase public access to the outdoors, and benefit local communities and economies. Masu. These projects exemplify the scale of public-private partnerships needed to protect large-scale landscapes.
“These Acres for America grants are a great representation of the best land conservation projects in communities across the country,” said Jeff Trandahl, NFWF Executive Director and CEO. said. “What sets this tablet apart is the human dimension, projects that greatly expand people’s ability to get outside and enjoy nature, and projects that include Indigenous peoples in the ownership and management of these amazing places. .”
“For the past 19 years, Walmart’s Acres for America program has contributed to conservation for the benefit of both people and the planet,” said Hunter Hart, senior vice president of real estate at Walmart US. states. Grants not only permanently protect key wildlife habitat, but also enable local stewardship and public access to the land, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty of these amazing places. Masu. ”
This year’s largest project will acquire conservation easements for more than 73,000 acres of vast forests, cold-water lakes, trout streams, and wetlands in the Michigan Highlands of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project, led by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, will ensure sustainable forest management, provide full access to public recreation, and protect and protect habitat for elk, white-tailed deer, brook trout, and dozens of migratory bird species. This is an attempt to improve. The project also borders the federal McCormick Nature Preserve and Craig Lake State Park.
“Obtaining a valid forest conservation easement on the Michigan Plateau will protect critical fisheries and wildlife habitat,” said Michigan DNR Director Scott Bowen. “It also provides a variety of public recreation opportunities and helps ensure Michigan’s most climate-resilient landscapes. Support this effort and invest funds in managing and protecting Michigan’s precious natural resources.” We are very grateful to NFWF and Walmart for their support.”
Several Acres for America projects within this grant include new projects in Maine and Oklahoma, and an expansion of a previous Acres project in Fawns Cliff, Virginia, that are The tribe is involved in the conservation and management of their ancestral lands.
In Maine, the Trust for Public Land and the Penobscot Nation announced an effort to protect more than 31,000 acres of forest in Maine’s Katahdin region. Most of the land would be returned to the Penobscot Nation in the heart of their ancestral homeland. The project will also create much-needed public access to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, enhance local outdoor recreation opportunities, and provide cultural and economic benefits to tribal members and surrounding towns. Masu.
In Oklahoma, the newest state in the Acres for America program, The Nature Conservancy will protect 12,345 acres outside Tulsa and open them to public use and conservation management over time. This acquisition will create the largest contiguous preserve in Oklahoma’s Cross Timbers and Southern Tallgrass Prairie ecosystems. Conservation management of this land maintains wildlife habitat, including the many species that rely on pristine grassland ecosystems, provides public access to nature, and increases community resilience to the impacts of climate change. It supports tribal hunting and collection of cultural plants. .
Acres for America began in 2005, with Walmart making a $35 million commitment over the first 10 years to purchase and conserve one acre of U.S. wildlife habitat for every acre of land the company develops. did. Walmart exceeded that promise and renewed the program for another 10 years in 2015. The program will now have the collective effect of helping protect his 2.1 million acres across 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Over the past 19 years, Acres for America has funded more than 119 of his projects, leveraging Walmart’s $68.5 million investment and matching donations to generate more than $1.1 billion in total conservation impact. I did. Learn more about the Walmart Foundation and Walmart’s goal to protect, more sustainably manage, and restore nature.
A complete list of 2023 grants made through the Acres for America program can be found here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Authorized by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. NFWF works with federal, corporate, foundation, and individual partners to fund more than 6,000 organizations and generate $8.1 billion in total conservation impact. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, visit nfwf.org.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, technology-powered omnichannel retailer that helps people save money and live better lives anytime, anywhere – in stores, online and on their mobile devices. doing. Each week, approximately 240 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal 2023 sales of $611 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million people worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and job opportunities. Additional information about Walmart can be found at https://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook (https://facebook.com/walmart), and on X (formerly Twitter). https://twitter.com/Walmartand on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/walmart/).