National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest and most trusted conservation organization, works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. We’ve been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936, fighting for the conservation values that are woven into the fabric of our nation’s collective heritage.
More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We’re on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive: NWF Regional Centers and Affiliates
Our strategic plan sets in motion a Common Agenda for Wildlife to increase America’s fish and wildlife populations and enhance their capability to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Naomi Edelson
Naomi is an inspirational leader in the wildlife conservation community who is gifted at building movements of people inspired to action. She is respected for convening coalitions and motivating teams for success, as well as being an innovator in the field, creating new practical tools and expert guidance. As Senior Director for Wildlife Partnerships at National Wildlife Federation, she works with state wildlife agencies and other state based partners to secure greater funding to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered including leading the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act campaign. Before working with NWF, Naomi raised more than $1 billion dollars in new conservation funding through her work as the Teaming with Wildlife Director at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. She initiated and directed all aspects of Teaming with Wildlife, a national grassroots coalition of more than 6,000 groups. She also works with the NWF Gardening for Wildlife program to restore wildlife habitat where people live, work, learn, play and worship, including creation of the Native Plant Finder and Sacred Grounds, a program for faith communities. Naomi is a wildlife biologist with a M.S. from the University of Florida where she studied wading birds and wetlands, and a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
State Fish and Wildlife Agencies
State wildlife agencies are responsible for conserving all fish and wildlife for all the residents of their state. They have the primary responsibility for managing and maintaining wildlife populations within state borders, sharing authority for migratory species and federally listed threatened and endangered species with the federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA. They manage millions of acres of habitat for wildlife while also providing countless recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers, birders, hikers, paddlers, and nature photographers. They also provide formal education programs for K-12 schools and skills based training with mandatory hunter education and other programs. They employ thousands of professional fish and wildlife biologists. Originally established in the late 1800s and early 1900s to address serious declines of game species, the agencies have built a long and successful legacy of conserving, restoring, and managing wildlife valuable for hunting and angling. Agencies today are striving to fulfil their missions to conserve the full spectrum of wildlife and provide opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about nature in many ways.
Funding and Support
We are grateful to the Wilburforce Foundation for their leadership, financial support, and understanding of the importance of strong wildlife agencies and associated constituencies. We also show gratitude to the many idea generators and reviewers who contributed to the toolkit including John Kanter, Steve Bender, Dave Chadwick, Mike Worley, Janice Bezanson, Suzanne O’Neill, Eric Schwaab, Claudia Malloy, Samantha Lockhart, Jill Feldhusen, Lucy Evert, and other National Wildlife Federation staff and affiliates, current and previous state agency staff, other conservation groups and individuals. A special acknowledgement to Marina Richie (marinarichie.com) for her writing contributions, and to Dominique Kone and Lauren Anderson for their research. Nancy Gloman, Jodi Hilty and Denise Joines provided inspiration to take this path.
Header photo credit: Michael Carl