Resolution 2026-04
WHEREAS, as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, there is renewed importance in affirming our constitutional democracy, the civic principles and public institutions that have supported the democratic governance and stewardship of the nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances, rule of law, and protection of fundamental freedoms and independent institutions that provides the framework within which science-based conservation policy is debated, enacted, implemented, and enforced; and
WHEREAS, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation reflects the principle that wildlife is a public trust resource, governed by law and informed by science for the benefit of all rather than private privilege, underscoring that conservation depends on democracy, accountable institutions, public stewardship, and the ability of people to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting shared natural resources; and
WHEREAS, conservation outcomes are strongest and most durable when environmental and natural resource decisions are made through inclusive public processes that provide timely notice, clear and accessible government communications, and access to complete and accurate information, including the preservation and accessibility of public records and data, along with meaningful opportunities for community input at the local, state, Tribal, territorial, and federal levels; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation’s mission depends on government decisions and actions that are transparent, accountable, and grounded in sound science and on people and communities, including Tribal Nations, having a meaningful voice in shaping the decisions that affect their land, water, climate, health, livelihoods, and cultural connections; and
WHEREAS, safeguards and processes that support accountable governance and scientific integrity — including public participation, scientific and institutional independence, publicly accessible information, a professional civil service, adherence to established legal obligations, and citizen-led democratic mechanisms such as ballot initiatives, referenda, and petitions — are essential to ensuring transparent, science-informed conservation decision-making and meaningful community participation in the stewardship of shared natural resources, particularly for communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens; and
WHEREAS, these safeguards and processes can be weakened or bypassed through reduced transparency, erosion of public access to accurate information, undue pressure on public institutions and civil servants, and funding or staffing changes outside established public processes, reducing the capacity of government and communities to make informed conservation decisions; and
WHEREAS, actions that discourage or penalize lawful participation or peaceful assembly make public and outdoor spaces unsafe, place people at risk of serious harm, and deter communities from engaging in the processes that shape their futures; and
WHEREAS, actions that intimidate, politicize, or undermine scientists, public servants, election officials, journalists, and other civic actors essential to public accountability make public and outdoor spaces unsafe, reduce the capacity of government and communities to make informed conservation decisions, and inhibit the recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce necessary to carry out conservation and natural resource management.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its Annual Meeting assembled June 14-17, 2026, affirms its commitment to advancing conservation through principled and respectful engagement across political, cultural, and geographic differences, recognizing that durable conservation requires civil discourse, mutual accountability, and collaboration grounded in shared stewardship values, and that care for America’s lands, waters, and wildlife reflects civic responsibility and service to country; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports nonpartisan civic participation, including the freedoms of speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petition, and access to information and transparent and lawful public process, recognizing that the ability of people to speak, act collectively, and hold institutions accountable is fundamental to durable conservation and community resilience; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation affirms that conservation depends on communities being able to engage safely and freely in civic life, including in public and outdoor spaces, and opposes actions or practices that intimidate or endanger people engaged in lawful civic participation, infringe upon civil liberties and due process, or otherwise undermine lawful participation or the institutions responsible for protecting wildlife and the environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the independence, integrity, and safety of scientists, public servants, and other civic actors essential to conservation, environmental protection, and public health, including efforts to safeguard publicly accessible information and professional expertise; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports nonpartisan efforts to uphold and strengthen government integrity, independence, and transparency at the federal, state, Tribal, territorial, and local levels where these conditions are weakened in ways that threaten wildlife, ecosystems, and communities, and undermine effective conservation outcomes consistent with the Federation’s mission and One Federation approach.