The Natural Resource Council of Maine helped lead opposition to a proposed $1 billion power corridor that would have cut through hundreds of miles of the North Woods, through 263 wetlands, across 115 streams, and near remote Beattie Pond, culminating in the suspension of the permit in November 2021.

Delaware designated $50 million for clean water funding in the state this year, through the creation of a Clean Water Trust Fund. This funding will improve the quality of the state’s water supply and waterways and help all Delawareans, particularly those in low-income and traditionally underserved communities, to have access to healthy drinking water for generations to come. Congratulations to Delaware Nature Society!

The Nebraska Wildlife Federation continues to lay the groundwork for an ECHO program in their state, through a collaboration with the UNL Extension Early Childhood Educator, to promote ECHO at six locations within Nebraska. Conversations are underway with the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation to integrate prairie restorations, pollinator habitat, and ECHO developments into upcoming park renovations.

This year, Nevada Wildlife Federation completed a new strategic plan, which includes an organizational equity and justice statement; launched a new website reflecting updating organizational branding; and worked with other organizations to secure the signing of the Nevada Habitat Conservation Framework that takes bold steps to restore and conserve intact, accessible natural areas critical to maintaining Nevada’s recreation economy, identifies and protects wildlife migration corridors in the larger sagebrush ecosystem, and strengthens NDOT’s role in habitat conservation, identifying opportunities to protect or restore sagebrush habitats and wildlife migration corridors in new or existing NDOT policies.

The Florida Wildlife Federation drew public attention to the dramatic recent declines in manatee populations, spotlighting chronic water quality problems and habitat loss while also working with bipartisan leaders in Congress to introduce legislation to reclassify the species as ‘endangered’ under the Endangered Species Act.

Following many successful years of their longleaf pine restoration work, Alabama Wildlife Federation received additional funding from NFWF this year. Through this project, AWF works with private landowners to restore and maintain longleaf pine forests.

Thanks to the hard work of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, working with the Trust for Public Land, the Sabinoso Wilderness in New Mexico expanded to nearly 30,000 acres, following the the largest private donation of land to the government under the Wilderness Act. The additional land will offer the public a new entry point to the wilderness which was landlocked until 2017. Congrats to NMWF for making public lands history!

Georgia Wildlife Federation received funding to expand their highly successful Academics Afield program – which introduces college students to hunting and conservation – from 8 current programs to 12 additional universities across the South, focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

This year, Conservation Northwest raised nearly $5 million to purchase protection of 9,243 acres and transfer the land directly to its historical stewards, the Colville Confederated Tribes. The property is a stepping stone between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains for wildlife habitat connectivity, and was part of the Tribes’ original reservation until 1892.

Environmental Advocates NY celebrated the victory of New York’s Proposal 2 just last month, an amendment to the State Constitution that would add “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.” Passing this amendment has made New York just the third state in the U.S. to recognize protecting environmental rights as an inalienable right and provides a blueprint for other states to follow. Congratulations, EANY!

Thanks to the work of Prairie Rivers Network and their partners in the state, Illinois passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the most comprehensive and equitable climate and energy bill in the nation.

Iowa Wildlife Federation hired their first Executive Director after many years with no paid staff. Scott Ourth joins IWF after serving as an Iowa State Representative.

In North Carolina, a 2-year state budget passed last month that reflects the highest spending allocation for land and water conservation since the 2008 recession! North Carolina Wildlife Federation was instrumental in securing an increase of over $200 million for the state’s Land and Water Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

This year alone, Wyoming Wildlife Federation conserved 130 miles of wildlife corridors, empowered over 100 people in advocacy trainings across the state, removed or replaced over 7 miles of fences to help migrating wildlife, engaged 102 children in 12 schools in a Wyoming wildlife-centered curriculum, secured $1.4 million to improve access to public lands, AND secured a recommendation from the Wildlife Task Force to fully fund the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund.

Along with celebrating their 70th anniversary this year (and 50 years as an NWF affiliate), Conservation Council for Hawai’i once again held their Manu O Kū Festival, celebrating the culturally significant, native sea bird and bringing awareness to conservation issues; and have partnered to save another native group of birds, the honeycreepers, from extinction due to mosquito-borne illnesses. CCH is dedicated to protecting native Hawaiian plants, animals, and ecosystems for future generations.

In Missouri, conservation legislation was signed into law this year thanks to the efforts of Conservation Federation Missouri, including a Prescribed Burning Act. Previously, Missouri was one of only five states that didn’t define liability for potential damages incurred during prescribed burns disincentivizing burns as a habitat management tool. Congrats to CFM on this important change in the state!

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation helped secure introduction of the New Mexico Wildlife Heritage Act (SB 312), a bill to modernize several aspects of the state’s wildlife management system. The bill would have renamed the Department of Game and Fish to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, expanded the agency’s authority for more wildlife taxa and broadened the agency’s programs, while also strengthening resident hunting opportunities. While the bill did not pass, it laid a strong foundation for future action.

As part of their ongoing work to call attention to climate impacts in their state, the Indiana Wildlife Federation released a new short video this year exploring how fly fishing on the White River in central Indiana has been impacted by climate-driven severe weather over the years. The film is only one of the resources from IWF that outlines how equitable policies and programs can create jobs, tackle climate change, and harness the power of nature to enhance long-term health for people and wildlife alike.

North Dakota Wildlife Federation added $250,000 to their estate dedicated to crane habitat in North Dakota, funded nearly $300,000 in habitat improvement projects across the state, developed and passed a new electronic land posting system for landowners and sportsmen (hopefully ending a 30 year fight on the issue), maintained funding for the Outdoor Heritage Fund at $15 million, added two new affiliates to their federation, and developed a new strategic plan to guide NDWF into a new growth phase.

This year, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation celebrated their 90th Anniversary. Originally the South Carolina Game and Fish Association, they have served as the voice for outdoor enthusiasts since 1931 and worked to ensure everyone can enjoy South Carolina’s natural heritage and recreation opportunities.

Years of work by the Association of Northwest Steelheaders and the Idaho Wildlife Federation helped convince Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson to unveil a plan to breach the four dams on the lower Snake River, a major step forward in the recovery of endangered Pacific salmon runs.

The Virgin Islands Conservation Society hired Valerie Peters as the organization’s Executive Director. A long-time volunteer, Valerie had recently helped VICS launch an Eco-Schools program on the U.S. Virgin Islands in addition to leading a variety of other programs and partnerships.

Conservation Northwest celebrated the birth of four kits to Fisher F105 “Luna” — the first confirmed reproduction in the North Cascades since their program began reintroducing fishers there three years ago. Over the last 25 years, Conservation Northwest’s Fisher Reintroduction Program has reintroduced more than 250 of these feisty mustelids to the Olympic Peninsula and the North Cascades.

The Florida Wildlife Federation worked with advocates across the Sunshine State to persuade the Legislature to provide $100 million in funding for the Florida Forever program and dedicate an additional $300 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funds for land conservation.

The Minnesota Conservation Federation organized the Chronic Wasting Disease Action Coalition, an alliance of a dozen organizations representing hundreds of thousands of deer hunters and professional wildlife managers. The coalition is calling for the closure of captive deer farms as well as a ban on the interstate movement of any captive deer or disease-carrying fluids.

In partnership with Trout Unlimited, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition launched a Stream Watch app that gives citizen scientists the ability to easily submit photos of water pollution or habitat degradation. The photographic data populate an interactive map that informs follow-up on enforcement actions or restoration needs.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation continued their on-the-ground work to restore forestlands across the Cumberland Plateau. In the latest project, TWF is partnering with Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and others to enhance more than 6,800 acres of wildlife habitat in Tennessee and Kentucky. The project will identify three large restoration areas totaling more than 60,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau, two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee, to improve forest structure and health to benefit a suite of wildlife species that require mixed-aged forests.

The Nevada Wildlife Federation Collaborated closely with a large group of conservation, sporting, and progressive organizations to secure the signing of the Nevada Habitat Conservation Framework Gubernatorial Executive Order that identifies opportunities to protect and restore sagebrush habitats and wildlife migration corridors.

Vermont’s Climate Council has adopted the state’s first-ever statutorily required Climate Action Plan, the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work by Council members, including our affiliate Vermont Natural Resources Council. The Plan meets the climate target of reducing greenhouse gas pollution to 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, while advancing equity and building resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis across Vermont.

Colorado Wildlife Federation celebrated a major policy win for Colorado’s wildlife habitat and connectivity when, thanks to their efforts, the governor released a Big Game Policy Report, Opportunities to Improve Sensitive Habitat and Movement Route Connectivity for Colorado’s Big Game Species, which offers potential policy solutions for stemming landscape fragmentation and safeguarding sensitive habitat for big game species.

After years of dedication to protecting the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest remaining on the planet, the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, cheered this year when the federal government proposed to restore Roadless Rule protections and announced a new Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy. As the traditional homeland of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples who use the forest for hunting, fishing, gathering, and arts, the Tongass is also the largest National Forest and plays a key role in helping to stabilize the climate in the face of global warming as its ancient trees and soil store more carbon dioxide than any other in North America. Under the previous administration, the forest would have been opened to logging and road-building, devastating essential salmon and wildlife habitat and the role the forest plays in tourism, fishing, recreation, and indigenous cultures. The new sustainability strategy will end large-scale old-growth timber logging on the Tongass, invest an additional $25 million in supporting local, sustainable development initiatives, and prioritize a renewed commitment to their engagement with Tribes, among other actions.

This year saw the largest dam removal in Kentucky’s history, thanks to the Kentucky Waterways Alliance and a handful of their partners. Unused for 70 years, removal of the Green River’s Lock and Dam 5 will make the river safer for people, healthier for fish and mussels, and provide an economic boon to local communities.

Maine allocated $40 million over four years for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program this year, after years of work by the Natural Resources Council of Maine. With the use of this funding, lands will be acquired for conservation, recreation, and Maine’s heritage industries. This huge victory marks the first time that LMF has received significant funding in the state budget.

Idaho Wildlife Federation continued leading the way for conservation in their state this year, with major victories that kept Payette Lakes, a treasured outdoor recreation land, public by spearheading an effort to create a first-of-its-kind state land conservation mechanism; saw the introduction of the Columbia Basin Initiative, by Congressman Mike Simpson, that would restore salmon and steelhead to the Snake River basin after six years of work by IWF; and substantially improved Chronic Wasting Disease testing/monitoring regulations through the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

Following a marijuana legalization bill that including funding for conservation passed last year in Montana, this year Montana Wildlife Federation successfully defended the conservation funding measure after the governor’s original budget had none of the tax money going to conservation programs. A win for public access, working ranches, and Montana’s outdoor recreation economy, this funding will provide a projected $16 million per year for conservation in Montana by 2025.

In a win for the climate, Rhode Island passed new climate legislation that means the state will be developing a plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels this year, 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2040, and net-zero by 2050. The legislation is one of the most influential environmental bills approved by the General Assembly in decades. Congrats to the Environment Council of Rhode Island for their work to deliver a cleaner, healthier future for all Rhode Islanders.

The Louisiana Wildlife Federation helped pass legislation (HCR 55) to create an Outdoor Conservation Study to investigate conservation funding needs. In October, LWF Executive Director Rebecca Triche helped kick off the first meeting of the group by making the case for more conservation investment in the Pelican State.

The Environmental League of Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Turnbull Henry was named one of the Boston area’s 50 “Movement Makers” for the year, who are effecting change in communities and building a better, more prosperous equal area for all.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation launched “Tennessee CLEAN” (Cleaner Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature) a statewide campaign to reduce waste and clean up litter in the state. Through grassroots outreach, innovative media outreach, and bipartisan legislative engagement, they have elevated the issue to the top of the political agenda in Tennessee. Within just a few months, the campaign secured unanimous legislative support to launch a formal collaborative process to tackle the trash problem – the first legislative action on litter in a generation. TWF is working toward a major legislative package in 2023.

Maryland affiliate the National Aquarium announced plans to make all of the glass in its buildings “bird safe.” The first glass to be replaced will be the aquarium’s iconic pyramid. This has a price tag of $7.75 million and will be one of the largest and most costly renovations in the country involving bird-friendly, etched glass. Renovations are scheduled to begin in March 2022.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation inaugural “Bridges to BOW” program was a huge success. Fifteen pioneering young women, from a wide diversity of backgrounds, took part in a Becoming-an-Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop at Friendly Pines Camp. None of these women had previously heard of BOW and thanks to their attendance, word of future BOW workshops will be reaching younger, more diverse audiences. By participating in the B2B program, these strong and courageous women are helping build bridges and pave the way for more women of color to participate in outdoor opportunities such as BOW.

The Texas Conservation Alliance’s new community conservation program hosted 50 restoration events, recruiting 1000 volunteers, many of them high school students and 75% of whom were from historically underserved communities. Together they planted 16,140 tree saplings, and 3927 native prairie plants, removed 11,994 pounds of litter pollution from waterways and natural areas, mounted 20 wood duck boxes at the Neches River NWR, constructed 25 more wood duck boxes for other locations, and removed invasive species from areas to be planted with natives.

Our newest affiliate, the Utah Wildlife Federation continued to convene and facilitate a wildlife connectivity working group comprised of representatives from over 40 conservation, environmental, sporting, and tribal advocacy organizations, along with folks representing relevant local, state, and federal government agencies, and Tribal Nations.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs received a $1 million bequest from a long-time supporter who was dedicated to the organization’s work to engage the next generation in conservation. The funds will be used to support an Outdoor Action and Legal Defense Fund, a named fund to support a policy and advocacy intern at MUCC for at least 10 year, and program and infrastructure updates at the Michigan Out-of-Doors Youth Camp.