The Antiquities Act Under Attack
Artifacts were disappearing. Vandalism left prehistoric dwellings in shambles. Archaeologically and culturally important Native American sites, then referred to as “antiquities,” were ransacked. In the late 1800s, “pot-hunters” – private collectors and thieves – prowled the Southwest in search of artifacts and prehistoric sites, leaving behind a trail of looted dwellings, remains, and settlements. Anthropologists, archaeologists, […]
Explore Public Lands In Any Season
Since 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has worked to conserve the nation’s wildlife and wild places. As part of our 80th anniversary celebration, we are recognizing important moments in our history that continue to make an impact today. Since our founding, the National Wildlife Federation has been active calling on various Administrations to protect our public […]
‘Pedal to the metal’ to save the Greater Sage-Grouse
A year ago, the greater sage-grouse was added to the endangered species list. Photo from Brett Billings/ USFWS This week, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell returned to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to commemorate the one-year anniversary of launching an unprecedented wildlife conservation effort. On Sept. 22, 2015, with the Front Range of the Rockies […]
Living Fossils At Risk
During the late spring and early summer, on nights with a high tide under a full or new moon, living fossils crawl en masse onto the beaches of the mid-Atlantic coast. These ancient arthropods are horseshoe crabs, which have survived relatively unchanged for 350 million years. Yet, human development has created uncertainty about their ability […]
Tied To the Land: A Pledge for Public Lands
I can still smell my father’s breath when he woke me up on those cool fall mornings on the Wyoming prairie in the mid 80’s. I can still hear my black lab, Jesse, now long gone, panting and whining in anticipation of the bird hunt. I can smell the musty soils and see the sun […]
Bringing Tribes Back to National Parks
Native peoples have deep ties to our greatest known parks – Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Olympic, Mesa Verde, Everglades – and many, many others. Indeed, it must be acknowledged that the federal government created many of our parks by removing tribes from their ancestral territories and pushing them onto much smaller reservations. Today, this is made […]
Reforms Needed to Protect Wildlife from Coal Leasing on Public Lands
We stand at a pivotal moment for coal development and public lands. As our energy sector rapidly shifts from dirty fuel sources to cleaner, safer ones, we have a chance to make sure that transition takes place in a manner that protects wildlife, habitat and our special places. The coal industry is undergoing sweeping change, […]
Vieques Wildlife Refuge Saved from Auction Block
The decision by members of Congress to leave the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge intact benefits thousands of wildlife species, some of which are not found anywhere else on earth. This refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the Caribbean, providing habitat and shelter for about 190 bird species, including herons, egrets, grebes, pelicans and […]
Congress, Leave the Strutting to Sage-Grouse
The greater sage-grouse’s annual mating dance on leks, or breeding grounds, is a one-of-a-kind spectacle that draws bird watchers from around the world to the Western U.S. The male sage-grouse fan out their spiky tail feathers, puff up their chests, and strut around while the females wait to be impressed. Year after year, the sage-grouse […]
What We Lose if We Sell Off a Wildlife Refuge
UPDATE: Due to tremendous pressure – including more than 20,000 NWF activists who spoke out to members of Congress – the sell-off of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge was taken out of the Puerto Rico debt legislation on May 19th. This irreplaceable wildlife safe haven will remain in public hands for all to enjoy and […]