Los polinizadores son esenciales para la vida silvestre y su contribución es vital para los ecosistemas y la cadena de alimentos. Todas las abejas, mariposas, polillas, murciélagos y colibríes autóctonos son polinizadores de las plantas que proporcionan los alimentos de los seremos humanos, crean los hábitats de otras especies de la fauna, estabilizan y mantienen los suelos. Lamentablemente, debido a la destrucción del hábitat, el uso de pesticidas, las enfermedades, el cambio climático y las especies invasoras, los polinizadores están disminuyendo en toda Norteamérica.

• Más de 1 de cada 5 especies de polinizadores tiene un riesgo elevado de extinción en Norteamérica, según un estudio liderado por NatureServe.
• A nivel mundial, en promedio, el 85% de las especies de plantas con flores dependen de la polinización animal. Esto incluye plantas silvestres que forman la columna vertebral de las redes tróficas, estabilizan los suelos, regulan los ciclos del agua y proporcionan hábitat a otras especies.
• El declive en los polinizadores de fauna silvestre provoca descensos paralelos en las plantas que dependen de ellos, con efectos en cascada en muchas otras especies.
• Las investigaciones demuestran que la pérdida de polinizadores puede reducir la rendición de los cultivos y afectar la nutrición, amenazando la salud humana.

La creación de un centro nacional para conservar a los polinizadores

Para afrontar la crisis de los polinizadores, el Departamento del Interior estableció el Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores, en el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. (USFWS). A pesar de su historial y logros significativos, su futuro está en riesgo debido los recortes presupuestales que han sido propuestos para el año fiscal 2027.

Desde su fundación en 2022, el Centro ha sido una entidad de colaboración entre gestores responsables de tierras, científicos, líderes de programas y socios comunitarios para compartir buenas prácticas y coordinar los esfuerzos de conservación de los polinizadores a nivel nacional.

Construyendo las bases

Las principales acciones de conservación del Centro han estado enfocadas en apoyar la salud de los polinizadores:

• El Plan de Acción para Polinizadores. El Centro reunió a más de 170 grupos socios de conservación de los polinizadores y creó el Plan de Acción para Polinizadores, guiando los esfuerzos de conservación en los Estados Unidos.
• Dos herramientas emblemáticas, la North American BeeTool y la Monarch Conservation Opportunities Tool, han proporcionado mapas y directrices a los socios y gestores de las tierras en EE. UU., Canadá y México. Estas herramientas ayudan a identificar los lugares donde las acciones en favor de la conservación son más necesarias y tienen mayor impacto.
• Otros programas como las encuestas de ADN ambiental (eADN), las evaluaciones de hábitats asistidas por drones y otros análisis, han sido fundamentales para reunir a los investigadores y proporcionar datos basados en la ciencia que apoyan la conservación de los polinizadores.

El Plan de Acción para Polinizadores incluye aumentar la disponibilidad de las semillas y las plantas autóctonas; simplificar las regulaciones para crear hábitats; mejora la colaboración e integración de las iniciativas de conservación y tomar en cuenta las decisiones acerca del uso del suelo y las nuevas infraestructuras.

Un ejemplo, es la iniciativa de “Colaboración de Monarcas del Oeste de San Joaquín”, en el valle central de California, en donde se ha desarrollado una estrategia regional de conservación de las mariposas monarca con un plan de trabajo de dos años.

Estudios y monitoreo del hábitat de los polinizadores

Los estudios y el monitoreo del hábitat son la columna vertebral de la conservación eficaz de los polinizadores. En 2024, gracias al trabajo del Centro, se estudiaron los Refugios Nacionales de Vida Silvestre y los distritos de gestión de humedales para determinar la situación de los hábitats y las poblaciones de los polinizadores, así como examinar el uso de pesticidas y la restauración de praderas. Los resultados de estos estudios ayudaron a identificar los lugares donde los polinizadores están prosperando, donde tienen dificultades y es necesario fortalecer las colaboraciones.

La importancia del financiamiento para la protección de los polinizadores

La propuesta de recortar el presupuesto federal para el año fiscal 2027, incluiría eliminar hasta el 20% de los fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU., poniendo en peligro a los programas del Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores y perjudicando la recuperación de estas especies de la vida silvestres.

El financiamiento del Centro se encuentra dentro de las asignaciones de Aplicaciones Científicas y Refugios Nacionales de Vida Silvestre, lo que hace que su financiamiento sea aún más vulnerable.

Reducir los fondos del Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores significa:

• Reducir el personal, eliminando las herramientas y las colaboraciones que son necesarias para la conservación.
• Reducir los recursos para mantener el hábitat y monitorear a los polinizadores.
• Eliminar las oportunidades para formar a los gestores de las tierras, los líderes comunitarios y la próxima generación de expertos en polinizadores.

No podemos tomar a la ligera el impacto que tendría reducir los fondos del Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores, especialmente teniendo en cuenta las crecientes amenazas que enfrentan.

Defendiendo la Conservación de los Polinizadores

Los polinizadores no tienen voz y no pueden expresar el gran valor que aportan a nuestros ecosistemas y nuestra salud. El Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores es una importante voz que ayuda a conectar la ciencia y sus herramientas prácticas en favor de estas especies que son vitales. Todos podemos amplificar esa voz siguiendo las siguientes recomendaciones:

• Contacta a los líderes de tu comunidad. Pídeles que incluyan presupuestos para conservar polinizadores y planificar del uso del suelo teniendo en cuenta proyectos de transporte, energía y programas agrícolas. Anímalos a fomentan alianzas con iniciativas federales, como el Plan de Acción para los Polinizadores.
• Haz que los polinizadores formen parte de la conversación sobre la conservación ambiental. Resalta la conexión entre el hábitat de los polinizadores y las decisiones que favorecen su conservación. Guía tu mensaje con información fiable; ¡Asegúrate de revisar bien tus datos! La información creíble es más poderosa que el mensaje que pretende ser más fuerte.
• Defiende la capacidad de la ciencia. La conservación de los polinizadores requiere el personal necesario para monitorear a estas especies y su hábitat en el largo plazo. También es necesario contar con herramientas prácticas basadas en la ciencia y con la colaboración entre las comunidades y en diferentes jurisdicciones. Alienta a los líderes a considerar decisiones de largo plazo durante los procesos de toma de decisiones y las conversaciones en público.

El Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores es más que un programa. Es una entidad que ayuda a mantener unida a una red nacional de conservación. El Centro, conecta la ciencia, los socios y las acciones de conservación, ayudando a los Estados Unidos a estar mejor preparado para proteger a nuestros polinizadores, los ecosistemas, la cadena de alimentos y nuestras comunidades.

NWF en acción
National Wildlife Federation apoya la recuperación de las mariposas monarca y de todos los polinizadores mediante la restauración del hábitat, la investigación y las asociaciones con líderes estatales y tribales, contribuyendo a la creación de planes a nivel estatal y los programas de conservación comunitarios como, Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, y la iniciativa Garden for Wildlife.

Lean este blog en inglés aquí.

Aviso legal: Este artículo está preparado de forma independiente por NWF, utilizando registros gubernamentales públicos e investigaciones científicas. Sus afirmaciones fácticas se basan en esas fuentes. Las opiniones expresadas no representan las del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU., el Centro para la Conservación de los Polinizadores, el DOI ni el Gobierno Federal.

Pollinators are essential to wildlife yet often overlooked contributors to our food systems and ecosystems. All native bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and hummingbirds are pollinators and play a crucial role in sustaining the plants that provide food for humans, create habitats for wildlife, stabilize soils, and maintain entire food webs. Unfortunately, these populations are declining across North America due to factors such as habitat destruction, pesticide use, disease, climate change, and invasive species.

• More than 1 in 5 species of pollinators have an elevated risk of extinction in North America, according to a study led by NatureServe.
• Globally, on average, 85% of flowering plant species depend on animal pollination. That includes wild plants that form the backbone of food webs, stabilize soils, regulate water cycles, and provide habitat for other species.
• Decline in wildlife pollinators leads to parallel declines in the plants that rely on them, with cascading effects on many other species.
• Research shows that the loss of pollinators can reduce yields and affect the nutrition of many crops, threatening human health.

From Pollinator Crisis to a National Conservation Center

To confront this crisis, the Department of the Interior established the Center for Pollinator Conservation at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Despite its clear track record of significant accomplishments, its future is now at risk due to the proposed 2027 fiscal year budget. Established in 2022, the Center created a national hub for land managers, decision-makers, scientists, program leaders, and community partners to share best practices and coordinate pollinator conservation efforts nationwide.

Building the Foundation

Since then, the Center’s key conservation actions have become the foundation of actions to support the health of the nation’s pollinators:

• The Pollinator Action Plan. The Center brought together more than 170 pollinator conservation partner groups and created the Pollinator Action Plan to guide U.S. conservation efforts.
• It launched two flagship tools—the North American BeeTool and the Monarch Conservation Opportunities Tool—making maps and guidance available to managers and partners in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. These tools help identify where conservation is most needed and which actions are likely to have the greatest impact.
• Other technical programs and investments, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys, drone-assisted habitat assessments, and social network analyses, have been critical in bringing together pollinator researchers to provide fact-based data to support pollinator conservation.

The Pollinator Action Plan outlines key areas of focus, including increasing the availability of native seeds and plants, streamlining regulatory processes for creating pollinator habitats, enhancing collaboration among partners and initiatives, and integrating pollinator conservation into broader land-use and infrastructure decisions.

The Center began implementing this plan through tangible actions, such as the San Joaquin Western Monarch Collaborative in California’s Central Valley, which is developing a regional conservation strategy for monarchs and a two-year work plan.

Surveys and Monitoring Pollinators’ Habitat

Surveys and monitoring are the backbone of effective conservation, and the Center has built that backbone for pollinators.

In 2024, National Wildlife Refuges and wetland management districts were surveyed and monitored to establish baseline habitat and populations, and to examine pesticide drift and prairie restoration practices.  The outcomes of these surveys identify where pollinators are thriving or struggling, which habitats best support pollinators, and where collaborations can be strengthened.

Funding Proposals and the Capacity to Protect Pollinators

Despite the urgency, proposed federal budget cuts of up to 20% for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Fiscal Year 2027 would jeopardize these programs and harm pollinators most in need of recovery. The Center’s funding falls within broader Science Applications and National Wildlife Refuge allocations, making it vulnerable to across-the-board funding reductions.

Reduced funding could mean:

• Many fewer staff to maintain tools and drive collaborations.
• Insufficient resources to support pollinator habitat and monitoring.
• Elimination of opportunities to train land managers, community leaders, and the next generation of pollinator experts.

Scaling back the Center for Pollinator Conservation is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially given the numerous facts highlighting the growing threats to our pollinators and the genuine risk of a future pollinator catastrophe that would be difficult to recover from.

Protecting the Foundation for Pollinator Conservation

Pollinators cannot express the pressures they face or the values they provide to our natural ecosystems and our health. The Center for Pollinator Conservation has been an important voice for pollinators and their conservation, helping connect science, practical tools, and partners across landscapes. You can help amplify that voice.

• Reach out to local leaders. Encourage them to consider pollinator conservation budgets, land-use planning, transportation and energy projects, and agricultural programs, while also nurturing partnerships with federal initiatives, such as those listed in the Pollinator Action Plan.
• Make pollinators part of the conversation. Highlight the connection between pollinator habitat and the decisions under discussion. A well-timed question can make an overlooked pollinator crisis visible. Lead your message with reliable information; double-check your facts! Credible information is more powerful than the loudest message.
• Defend capacity, not just awareness. Pollinator conservation requires people, long-term monitoring, accessible science, practical tools, habitat work, and collaboration across communities and jurisdictions. In public conversations and decision-making processes, encourage leaders to consider what it takes to sustain these functions over time.

The Center for Pollinator Conservation is more than a program; it is the connector that helps hold a nationwide pollinator conservation network together. By sustaining the national Center that connects science, partners, and conservation action, the United States can be better prepared to protect our pollinators and the natural ecosystems, food systems, and communities they support.

NWF in Action

The National Wildlife Federation supports monarch and all pollinators’ recovery through habitat restoration, research, and partnerships with state and Tribal leaders, contributing to the creation of state-level plans and community-based conservation programs such as the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and Garden for Wildlife.

Read this blog in Spanish here.

Disclaimer: This article is independently prepared by NWF using publicly available government records and peer-reviewed research. Its factual statements are based on those sources. The views expressed do not represent those of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Center for Pollinator Conservation, the DOI, or the Federal Government.

Picture millions of small wetlands scattered across the grasslands of the northern Great Plains: these are the Prairie Potholes. They were formed when ancient glaciers retreated over 10,000 years ago, leaving millions of shallow depressions that fill with snowmelt and water in the spring creating a vast network of seasonal wetlands.

These shallow wetlands are known as potholes, and they provide critical habitat for a large array of wildlife and are one of the most important migratory bird habitats in the western hemisphere, home to more than 50% of North American migratory waterfowl.

Not only do these potholes support a vast amount of biodiversity, but they also deliver many ecosystem services. Wetlands help recharge groundwater systems, reduce flooding by acting as natural sponges, and assist with filtering out pollutants and excess nutrients from agricultural operations—helping to purify our drinking water. In addition, they also store carbon securely underground.

Why These Potholes Matter

Due to its important role in supporting migratory waterfowl, the Prairie Pothole region is also known as North America’s Duck factory. Each year it provides the resources and habitat needed to support 10 million ducks. Some of these duck species include the northern pintail, blue-winged teal, northern shoveler and more.

The region also supports an incredible array of additional bird species, including songbirds, waterbirds, raptors, shorebirds, and upland game birds. Impressively, forty different species of breeding waterbirds including herons, American white pelicans, and sandhill cranes can be found in the US part of the region. The Prairie Potholes also support a variety of other wildlife species, from frogs, turtles, deer, and more.

These wetlands are small but mighty, delivering a huge impact not only for wildlife and the environment but also surrounding communities. But right now, the Prairie Potholes are at risk due to proposed changes to protective provisions.

Wetland Loss and Swampbuster

These wetlands face many threats and over the years have suffered substantial losses. The grasslands of the Great Plains have faced intense degradation from agricultural conversion. Many wetlands have been drained or filled, and grasslands have been converted to cropland for agricultural uses. Estimates show that over 50% of the potholes have been lost or degraded and over 60% of the native grasslands have been lost.

Due to the intense agricultural activity in the region, Prairie Potholes also face threats from pollutants, excess nutrients, and chemical runoff. Climate change has also had an impact, with rising temperatures and increased drought events, the prairie potholes are at risk of drying up more often, greatly impacting their ability to provide for the many wildlife species that rely on them.

With the substantial loss of wetlands in the Prairie Potholes that has already occurred, it is even more imperative to protect this region. One tool we have is through USDA’s Swampbuster provision which was created in the 1985 Farm Bill and is instrumental in protecting and preventing wetland conversion.

Under the Swampbuster provision producers are eligible to receive publicly funded subsidies on commodities, crop insurance premiums, and conservation programs as long as they preserve wetlands on their farm. Since its creation Swampbuster has been successful in helping to protect wetlands and preventing draining of the Prairie Pothole region. The provision applies nationwide, so it also protects rural wetlands in other parts of the country.

Swampbuster has been an effective provision for multiple reasons, it has built in flexibility for producers and provides motivation for conservation compliance while allowing farmers to graze or even crop the wetlands when weather permits.

Protect Swampbuster, Protect the Prairie Potholes

Swampbuster works because it relies on the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to use a scientific and objective process to determine wetland boundaries. These delineations help ensure that landowners are able to prevent impacts to wetlands. Current wetland criteria are governed by standards set by the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and USDA in 1996.

For many years USDA has been working on updating inaccurate early wetland maps that were previously given to farmers prior to the 1996 standards. Updates to these maps have been made through on-site visits to correct and certify wetland boundaries. However, USDA has recently issued an interim rule that would automatically approve all pre-1996 wetland delineations without making sure they are accurate.

USDA is making the change without doing an inventory or estimate of how many unverified wetland maps remain, without an environmental assessment, without consulting the Fish & Wildlife Service about the impacts on threatened or endangered species, and without consulting Native American Tribes that could be affected.

This rule would weaken Swampbuster and significantly impact wetlands, leading to damage to these important habitats. The Prairie Pothole region and the millions of wildlife species that rely on it are counting on the protections afforded by Swampbuster especially as other protections for these vital areas, such as the Clean Water Act, have been lost through rollbacks.

You can lend your voice to help protect the Swampbuster provision and in turn provide protection to important wetlands and the many wildlife that rely on them. Please join the National Wildlife Federation in calling on the USDA to strengthen and protect Swampbuster.

Help Protect the Prairie Pothole Region – Take Action with the NWF Action Fund

For further reading, check out this report from NWF and the Izaak Walton League: Wetlands Conservation in the Farm Bill

In some areas across the United States, cavity-nesting owl populations, including the American barn owl, have declined. One reason for this decline is loss of nesting habitat, including standing, dead timber that is perfect for some owl species to find a safe space for their young.

In 2024, Morrisville’s environmental sciences department, in collaboration with their sustainability council, launched the Owl Conservancy Project. Over the last two years on Earth Day, students, faculty, staff, and community members have built more than 20 owl boxes to place around campus to provide safe habitat for their owls within the more than 1,000 acres of college woodland. The campus is home to the American barn owl (Tyto alba), the eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio), and the northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus).

This 2026-2027 academic year, through a donation of the Reolink TrackMix LTE, students studying wildlife management will be able to observe owls on campus.

The dual-lens, 4K camera provides expansive 360° coverage, intelligent animal tracking, and reliable 4G LTE connectivity, making it ideal for remote locations without Wi-Fi or traditional power sources.

The video footage collected will help answer some of the research group’s key questions, including are the nest boxes being used by any of the three target species, what other animals are using the boxes, is the use by other animals creating competitive interference to the box use by owls, and are there extrinsic factors which are prohibiting box use by owls.

Additionally, students enrolled in the environmental interpretation and education course will develop signage, programming, and educational materials to promote owl conservation.

About Reolink 

Reolink offers smart security solutions for homes and businesses, aiming for a seamless security experience with its wide range of products. Serving millions globally, it provides video surveillance and protection, standing out for its commitment to security technology innovation.

For more information about Reolink, please visit the website.

About National Wildlife Federation

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, educators, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes.

For more information about National Wildlife Federation, please visit our website.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take flight over one of the country’s data center hotspots. Within the hour, I got a bird’s-eye view of what attracts data centers to an area like the Columbia River: hydroelectric dams, which provide plentiful energy, large swaths of land to house the large buildings and servers, and energy generation and grid infrastructure. 

But what was truly striking was the size of these data centers and the scale of the supporting energy infrastructure nearby. Like many others, I’ve heard considerable discussion about energy demands, but seeing the onsite generation gave me a clearer perspective on how much energy is required. 

The Larger the Growth, the Bigger the Impacts

Nearly 20 years ago, Oregon’s first data center was built in The Dalles by Google. Since then, the Lower Columbia River has grown into a data center hotspot. Columbia Riverkeeper, a nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, estimates that there are more than 100 data centers being proposed, under construction, or operational in the Lower Columbia River basin in Oregon and Washington. 

Industry advocates will be quick to point out that we have had data centers for decades. While that is true, it is important to remember that the data centers built today are significantly larger than the ones built at the start of the internet. As a result, they require more resources to operate which further impacts our energy and water systems as well as the communities that depend on them.

Energy Use

Data centers consume a significant amount of energy and that is only expected to grow in the coming years. In 2024, data centers accounted for nearly 5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption, and that consumption is expected to at least double by 2030.

In the Columbia River region, existing and planned data center capacity could reach four gigawatts, which could use enough energy to power 2.3 million households each year. 

To meet demand, utilities will often look to new fossil fuel generation and other infrastructure, producing harmful pollutants that endanger nearby communities and wildlife. Without strong guardrails, these financial and health costs can be passed on to households and businesses. Safeguards can include policies that require large energy users to pay more for electricity, pay for the extra electricity generation needed and related grid infrastructure, prioritize clean energy over fossil fuels, and prevent developers from stranding assets.

Last year, Oregon passed the Protecting Oregonians with Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act which put these protections into law in addition to requiring that new data center loads not impede clean energy and greenhouse gas emission targets. 

Water Use

Data centers also require substantial water, primarily for cooling. Large data centers can consume millions of gallons of water per day. In 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported withdrawing more than 240 million gallons of water from Oregon. It’s worth noting that AWS has initiatives that aim to return more water to communities than they use in direct operations.

Large water withdrawals can have significant impacts, and can affect drinking water supplies, groundwater levels, streamflows, and aquatic ecosystems, especially in areas that are experiencing droughts like Oregon and Washington. The impacts of the drought were evident during the flight. I had expected to see lush green fields and trees, but much of the landscape appeared brown and dry. 

However, it is difficult to know how much water is being used by data centers since there is no overarching requirement for companies to disclose water usage and for those who provide information voluntarily, it is not standardized. States across the country are working to tackle this issue with proposals being discussed in New Jersey, California, and Texas. In Oregon, Senator Wyden has sent letters to Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon demanding information on how their companies are minimizing water usage and impacts to communities.

To protect our water resources, there need to be regulations on water transparency and consumption. At the very least, data centers should be mandated to report water consumption, and reporting requirements should be standardized. 

What We Can Do

The National Wildlife Federation calls for federal, state, and local leaders to strengthen wildlife, climate, and environmental safeguards for the planning, siting, development, and operation of data centers. Without robust policy and corporate accountability implemented across all levels of government, data center growth could threaten our communities and the environment, including reversing our progress on conservation, increasing threats to public health, and harming wildlife and natural ecosystems. With the gratuitous rise of AI-driven data centers, we must act now.

NWF does valuable and noble work to protect the forests of Florida and the larger American South. NWF’s Southeast Forestry Program is working across the south to restore longleaf forests for the human and natural communities that depend on them. It is truly impressive work.

I am deeply blessed to live along the southern Nature Coast on the Gulf Coast of Florida, a landscape richly adorned with longleaf pines. Traveling into the forest provides a sublime and transcendent opportunity to hear the wind give them song and listen to their chorus. The song of windswept pines opens doors in my soul that allow me to, just for a moment, venture back in time to the sweetest of memories.

I hear the voice of my grandparents in the music of the pines. I hear the voice of my father, and remember time spent in nature with him. Most powerfully, though, I hear the voice of my mother. It is both painful in the reminder of loss and joyful in the celebration of memory—truly the definition of bittersweet.

My mom was a dedicated adherent of the longleaf pine. She loved hiking among them. We carried our plant and bird guides in our backpacks, seeking to know the botany below and the avian wonders above—the amazing birds of the longleaf. The sounds of the longleaf pine come not just from the wind through their needles, but from the calls that the creatures inhabiting them send forth. My mom and I were thrilled every time the rich chorus burst forth around us.

As we hiked, we heard the crunch of pine needles below our feet. We heard the gentle and hushed call of the northern bobwhite. As evening approached, the back and forth of barred owls announced the transition from day to night. The chuck-will’s-widow welcomed the stars and the moon through the pines. We wandered up and down the hills and valleys of places like the Brooksville Ridge, along some of the highest points in Florida. Sandhills are not mountains, but in Florida, any elevation is worth noting and celebrating. 

We marveled at the science, practice, and magic of prescribed fire. We saw firsthand, many times, the transformational power it had in the longleaf forest. Green growth bursts forth from darkened ashes. New life surges into the world from the burnt offerings of the fire’s transition—nutrients recycled through fire.

Fire is the lifeblood of longleaf pines, as essential as water. Fire is to water as water is to fire in a longleaf forest. Both are equally important. Both nourish all things wild within the range of these mighty trees.

For years these magnificent landscapes disappeared across the American South, but then a small group of ecologists and foresters began to preach the gospel of prescribed fire. They connected the loss of so many elemental species of plants and animals in the South to the loss of longleaf pines. Longleaf systems on public lands that were overrun with oaks and sweetgums were gradually reclaimed, through effective management and prescribed fire. What was once thought lost was being found again.

The longleaf pine is truly the tree of life. Few trees are as essential to all forms of life beneath them, those of shell, fur, feather, and claw. When they wither, when they are lost to lack of fire or overharvest, all below them withers as well. When they are lost, ecological loss ripples in all directions.

My mom and I became pilgrims sharing a journey of restoration as we wandered among the pines and marveled. The trails we hiked helped her put cancer and illness behind her and embrace the wonder of life surging forth after loss.

Let us rejoice in all things longleaf, preserving these trees with fire and patience. By conserving these habitats and ecosystems on public and private lands, perhaps we can show future generations that we had the grace, humility, and wisdom to set right what we had so broken. Let us celebrate the longleaf pine. May their rich chorus forever define wild Florida.

Learn more about longleaf pines.

An edited and modified version of this essay appeared in The Invading Sea. Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives in Brooksville, along the Nature Coast. Joe is a former Wildlife Policy Specialist for NWF’s Gulf Program and submits these blog posts as an alumnus and supporter. You can follow Joe on Facebook.

For their anniversary, we at the National Wildlife Federation (a member of BGA) are reflecting on our own alignment with ensuring a clean energy transition that serves its people and communities who build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure that powers our economy. When environmental and labor organizations work together, we can build a transition that protects both wildlife and working people.

Offshore wind is one example. From the beginning, NWF has worked alongside BGA and labor partners to advance responsible offshore wind development that creates family-sustaining union jobs while protecting marine ecosystems. The Block Island Wind Farm offered an early glimpse of what that collaboration can achieve: more than 300 workers across 10 building trades locals helped build America’s first offshore wind project, demonstrating the skilled workforce needed to build a new clean energy industry.

NWF has also seen the importance of workers firsthand as electrification expands across other industries. During a tour of Forum Mobility’s charging station at the Port of Long Beach, members of NWF’s Offshore Wind Team explored the nation’s largest port-based truck charging depot, designed to serve more than 200 electric drayage trucks each day. The transition from diesel to electric equipment is not just a technological shift—it is a workforce transition. Workers will need new skills and training as the infrastructure around them changes, underscoring why workers must be part of conversations about how we build a clean energy economy.

NWF also stands with workers facing the impacts of a changing climate. Extreme heat is increasing workplace safety hazards, while federal protections for workers remain uncertain. About 28,000 work injuries each year are linked to hot weather, making strong workplace heat protections increasingly important as temperatures rise.

But the work is far from finished. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has so far resulted in the cancellation of 223 clean manufacturing, energy, and industrial projects and may have cost the nation 111,765 jobs. These losses threaten both the clean energy industries we need to address climate change and the good jobs those industries can create. They also demonstrate why the partnership between environmental organizations and labor is more important than ever.

With the current federal administration failing to adequately protect workers and the environment, state and local action is increasingly important. NWF will continue to stand with labor and our state and local affiliates to listen, learn, and push for better outcomes for our planet and workers. In partnership with BGA and other coalitions, NWF helped develop a checklist for model heat standards that protect workers from extreme heat.

As NWF celebrates BGA’s 20th anniversary, we are celebrating more than two decades of partnership and a shared vision of a clean economy where workers have family-sustaining jobs, communities have opportunity, and our air, water, lands, and wildlife are protected.

1. It Helps Wildlife

There are so many wildlife species that depend on fallen leaves. From moths, butterflies, and fireflies that often overwinter in the leaf layer to reptiles and birds that use it as a foraging location.

When you use the fallen leaves in your garden, you are providing wildlife with vital habitat that they need to survive!

2. It Benefits Your Soil

You can take advantage of nature’s oldest recycling system when you add fallen leaves to your garden beds. There’s a whole ecosystem of insects, arthropods, fungi, and microorganisms that will break down these leaves into rich fertilizer that replenishes nutrients in your soil. Skip the store bought stuff and let nature do the hard work for you!

3. It Reduces Waste

In one year alone, Americans disposed of over 35 million tons of yard waste, roughly the equivalent of 1.4 billion standard-size yard wastebags! And you might be surprised how much of this ends up in the landfill. 

When you use the fallen leaves in your garden, you’re reducing the amount of waste you produce.

4. It Can Suppress Weeds

Using fallen leaves as mulch in your garden beds can help prevent weeds from growing. A thick enough layer of leaves (we recommend a leaf layer of 3-5 inches) will block the sunlight and prevent weed seeds from growing. Plus, these leaves will eventually decompose and add nutrients back into your soil.

5. It Saves You Time and Money

There are lots of ways that using your fallen leaves benefits your schedule and wallet, from saving you time bagging up leaves and carting them to the curb, to reducing the need for you to buy store bought fertilizer and mulch. 

Discover How to Leave the Leaves

To get the most out of your fallen leaves, make a plan for how you’re going to use them. We recommend moving leaves off of pathways and turfgrass and using them in the following ways:

• As mulch in your garden beds
• Beneath native trees 
• In the compost to make a natural fertilizer

Learn more in our How to Leave the Leaves Tipsheet

The anglers excitedly loaded their poles, coolers, and other gear onto the vessel before the sun was higher than the boom of the sailboats docked in the marina. With some light chit chat over bagels, coffee, and shared Dramamine for those who were less experienced with ocean fishing, we were on our way. 

The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament, our reason for assembling the group of 40 anglers, takes place every year over a weekend in late July off the coast of Rhode Island and in the ocean waters around Block Island. Nine species are included in the tournament: bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, fluke, black sea bass, bluefish, and striped bass.

This year, the National Wildlife Federation was a sponsor and chartered a boat for recreational anglers and conservationists to gather for a weekend of fishing, community, and camaraderie underneath the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind, and Block Island Wind turbines. 

On the first day, we traveled out past Block Island to Revolution Wind, a 65-turbine offshore wind project that will generate 704 MW of clean, affordable, and reliable electricity for Rhode Island and Connecticut—the equivalent to powering 350,000 homes and businesses. 

The project will complete construction later this year, but began delivering power to the grid in March 2026. Power from Revolution Wind will help improve grid reliability. A study from Union of Concerned Scientists demonstrated that Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind would have reduced New England’s blackout risk by 55% if it had been operational during the winter of 2024-2025. 

On the second day of the tournament, we traveled closer to the Block Island coast to fish near the Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind project in the United States with five turbines that began sending power to the island in 2016.

Split into teams of five or six, the anglers put lines in the water to begin the competition. Soon, anglers were reeling in species like black sea Bass to log for their teams, and other species like Atlantic mackerel although they did not count for this tournament. 

Offshore Wind Up Close

Seeing offshore wind turbines for the first time, many of the anglers remarked on how the turbines differed from what they expected. 

“Seeing it up close puts things into perspective for sure,” said La’Tonya Blanding, an angler and Artemis Sportswoman Ambassador from South Carolina. “They are massive and the power they generate is immense but low sound.” 

Underneath the steadily moving blades of the turbine, it was easy to see how a single rotation of the blades could produce enough energy to power the average U.S. household for an entire day.

One participant even found an unexpected connection to their day job. Her workplace, specializing in electrical and power management, shared an article shortly after the trip about how a few of her colleagues participated in an offshore wind readiness program at the Revolution Wind substation. “I’m like wait, I was just there,” said the angler, “so freaking cool.”

“I have been a fan of using ‘green’ options for energy, after seeing these up close I was impressed by just how large they were!” said Jack Illingworth from the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association. “I don’t think my feelings about offshore have changed much, [but] I feel I can better explain my position now.”

Other local anglers said what they saw on the trip came as no surprise. One local noted on fishing in the project area: “I’ve been out there several times for tuna fishing trips, so I was not really surprised by the turbines’ size or the amount of life out there,” but added still, “I never grow tired of encountering whales out there.”

Whales, Dolphins, and Seabirds, Oh My!

And, across the board, the vast array of wildlife thriving around the offshore wind turbines awed the diverse coalition of anglers on the vessel. Within the project areas on our first day out, anglers saw pods of dolphins, various seabirds, and humpback whales breaching to feed near the turbines.

“Seeing the whales bubble feeding [was] just inspirational,” said one angler commenting on the strategy humpback whales sometimes use to catch krill or fish. The whales use ‘bubble-net feeding,’ or the exhalation of air from their blowholes while swimming in a circle, to encase their prey into a smaller underwater space that makes it easier to eat more at once. 

Research suggests that humpback whales learn this behavior from each other, but we are learning from it, too. A similar technology is used in the offshore wind industry to keep whales safe from the noise pollution created during the pile driving process of construction. 

The double ‘bubble curtains’ used during pile driving encase the monopile from the seafloor to the top of the water in a thick layer of bubbles, trapping sound waves inside and protecting whales and other marine mammals from auditory impacts. Developers ‘double’ the bubble curtains—or use two at once—to further prevent construction noise from disrupting marine habitats.

Under the Surface

The offshore wind project areas on the East Coast have become rich underwater ecosystems because of the structure the turbine foundations create for species. 

“I was amazed at the amount of marine mammals and bird life,” noted George Baldwin from the Connecticut Surfcasters Association. “It makes total sense, as fish (especially baitfish) are attracted to structure and the [turbine] bases provide that structure. Gamefish, seabirds, and marine mammals know to hunt around structures to find baitfish, so the windmills should prove beneficial in increasing the marine life in the area.”

Turbine reefs can create new opportunities for marine life across the food chain, including for anglers who can utilize the turbines’ reef effect for their own recreational fishing, and many of the anglers on the boat attested to the boon. 

“Last year, I caught most of my fish right at the base of the [turbines],” said Baldwin.

“The fact that nature and industry can coexist is always interesting to me, and demonstrating that to people is valuable,” said Johnny Marquez from Vanishing Paradise, a program of the National Wildlife Federation that unites sportsmen to advocate for the restoration of water ecosystems in the Gulf. “Seeing the whales was by far my highlight,”

James Riggs from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association echoed the same admiration for the whales and added, “[I’ll] never forget it.”

Cameradie Across a Big Boat

The weekend ended on Block Island with an awards party at Captain Nicks Rock N Roll Bar with awards for shore, youth, and boat divisions, and best photos. A team from our charter won for best team photo in front of a turbine.

Many anglers noted incredible connections they made with new folks who brought differing perspectives to their engagement in the fishing community and conversation. With anglers coming from different day jobs, fishing clubs, parts of the country, and personal experiences, the boat was ripe for conversation during downtime—an experience that for some was just as, if not more, impactful than the fishing. 

“I had the chance to talk with people I would not normally come across in my daily life either at my job or recreationally, and enjoyed hearing about what they are doing and learned about many things going on around the country,” said Jack Illingworth from the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association. “Many of which I can share with my fishing club and hopefully generate additional support for their causes or work.”  

Another angler, from the West Coast, expressed a similar enthusiasm about connecting to anglers from different parts of the country to discuss fisheries and offshore wind: “Getting to connect with so many new people from across the nation who are invested in and care about the future of our oceans was inspiring and fulfilling. I appreciated the opportunity to connect and hear about East Coast fisheries—crazy fish that are so similar but also so different from the ones on the West Coast—and the recreational angling culture.” 

He added, “just seeing the wind turbines helped me understand what our West Coast may look like in the future.”

“The focused and shared time with a fellow angler and emerging friend from my town and local fishing club was precious,” said Christa Drew from the Cape Code Salties Sportsfishing Club, who recounted a particularly meaningful conversation with one of her tournament team members on policy in her state. “I was inspired to have time with some other anglers and non-anglers who also care about the environment and conservation in an informed and passionate way.”

Anglers walked away from the weekend feeling inspired to talk to others about how healthy ocean ecosystems can exist next to offshore wind, and spoke directly to how they were going to put this experience into action in their circles. 

“I do a lot of conservation work with our fisheries,” said Baldwin, “and am now more inspired to try and influence people to accept wind power as a valid and valuable component in plans to replace dirty fuels that change our atmosphere and our climate, endangering our world and our existence.”

Learn more about responsible offshore wind and recreational fishing and connect with other anglers at the Anglers for Offshore Wind Power website, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to know which tree you’re most like? Take our native tree quiz here!

What is Trees for Wildlife?

The National Wildlife Federation’s Trees for Wildlife program helps grow the population of good neighbors by providing free or subsidized native tree seedlings to partners across the country who plant them through local habitat restoration projects or distribute them at community tree giveaway events.

Thanks to generous donor support, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and conservation organizations are enabled to launch projects that create lasting benefits for both wildlife and the communities that care for them.

Some native trees are especially valuable because they support an extraordinary number of wildlife species. Known as keystone plants, these species form the foundation of healthy ecosystems. Planting them ensures that butterflies, native bees, birds, and other wildlife have the best chance of success.

2026 by the Numbers

In 2026, the Trees for Wildlife program helped distribute nearly 70,000 native trees representing more than 50 different types of trees. Among them were 16 keystone plants that support close to 500 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars.

Through these projects, partners helped restore habitats after natural disasters, increased future food availability for wildlife, and inspired people of all ages to connect with nature.

Through our partners outreach and activities, we engaged with nearly 23,000 people, giving them the opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects where they live, worship, and play. These five stories offer a glimpse into this year’s impact:

Partner Spotlights

University of Michigan-Flint | 500 trees

Sugar maples are great neighbors. Beyond producing the sap used to make maple syrup, sugar maples supply food for many mammals and insects while providing woodpeckers and other birds a safe area to nest.

To help students discover the value of native trees like the sugar maple, the University of Michigan-Flint hosted Genesee County Middle School for their Super Science Friday event where students traded in the classroom for hands-on learning in the great outdoors.

They explored forest ecology, practiced tree identification, and learned forestry skills alongside UMF wildlife biology students and faculty. The event provided the children with a greater understanding of the importance of trees in their communities and ecosystems while the planting of seedlings throughout campus will benefit local wildlife for years to come.

Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) | 40,000 trees

Harsh winters often take a toll on both people and wildlife. For pollinators, the first taste of spring comes from the Eastern redbud, a tree whose pink and purple blossoms bloom even before its leaves emerge after each long winter, providing an early nectar source for bees and butterflies. The tree even serves as the host plant for the specialized bee Habropoda laboriosa.

Protecting these early signs of spring became a shared mission among thousands of Tennesseans. Following the devastating ice storms that damaged and destroyed thousands of trees across the state, more than 4,500 volunteers participated in the 12^th annual Tennessee Tree Day to help plant 40,000 Trees for Wildlife seedlings!

Thanks to the incredible planning efforts of the TEC pickup sites were set up in all 95 of Tennessee’s counties for the first time in the event’s history. This exceptional feat showcases how communities coming together can have a tremendous impact on restoring wildlife habitats after natural disasters.

Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps & Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) | 100 trees

Sweetbay Magnolias thrive where other trees struggle. Well adapted to swampy soils, they help stabilize flood-prone areas while supporting insects. They are pollinated by beetles that covet the tree’s aromatic white flowers and also serve as the host plant for the sweetbay silkmoth and tiger swallowtail butterfly.

These unique qualities made this tree an ideal species for an Earth Day planting event hosted by the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps and the ISB. Together with students from Al-Rahmah School, volunteers planted native trees across the ISB campus. Located within a floodplain, the location provided the perfect setting for water-tolerant species, which will help reduce stormwater runoff while creating healthier habitat for wildlife and the surrounding community.

West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) with the support of Allied World | 100 trees

Persimmon trees generously provide for the wildlife around them. Their fruit feeds birds and mammals well into fall and winter, while their spring flowers offer nectar and pollen for native bees, making them valuable neighbors throughout the year.

With generous support from Allied World, WAWA transformed what could have been a simple Arbor Day event into their 19th annual Urban Forest Fest, which was a multi-day celebration of community, creativity, and connection to nature.

Residents were invited to participate in guided hikes, take workshops for poetry and photography, and bring home one of the 130 trees given away at the events. With 70 trees remaining, WAWA and its volunteers banded together to plant the rest in designated locations throughout Atlanta, creating lasting habitat across the city.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation | 8,700 trees

Towering American sycamores have a huge impact on wildlife. These gentle giants that grow to heights of 100+ feet have an affinity for aquatic environments and are often found on the banks of rivers and streams. Their cavernous trunks create ideal nesting sites for birds like the wood duck and the iconic bald eagle. The tree’s expansive root system also helps stabilize fragile riverbanks and shorelines to protect them from erosion.

In North Carolina, native trees like the American sycamore have become an important part of the region’s recovery following hurricane Helene in 2024. Working alongside local partners, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation distributed thousands of Trees for Wildlife seedlings to landowners and communities across the state, helping protect against future erosion, reduce invasive species, and restore critical wildlife habitat.

This incredible work has not gone unnoticed: while working on the Watauga River, volunteers were greeted by a group of paddlers and anglers who thanked them for working to protect the waters they know and love.

More to Explore

• Want to see more of this year’s projects? Click here to explore our 2026 Event Summaries to learn how Trees for Wildlife partners are making a difference around the nation.
• To see more photos and learn where native trees are being planted, take a look at our interactive Trees for Wildlife Impact Map!

Help Future Trees for Wildlife Projects Take Root

Native trees are the neighbors that make every community stronger. They provide shelter, protect waterways, clean our air, and create healthier places for us all to live. As forests continue to disappear and wildlife habitat is fragmented by development, these pillars of our communities are being lost.

With your support, Trees for Wildlife can further invest in the future by putting native seedlings directly in the hands of community members so they can restore habitat, strengthen ecosystems, and create more resilient communities for generations to come.