Creating and Restoring Wildlife Habitats

Alongside our grassroots efforts to advocate for clean air, clean water, and ecosystem protection, the National Wildlife Federation works to create new habitat and restore damaged areas through our wildlife gardening and tree planting programs.

The National Wildlife Federation's efforts include responding to critical habitat restoration needs after disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil disaster, and Superstorm Sandy.

Helping People Garden With Wildlife in Mind

• Create a garden that helps wildlife—By providing the basic elements of habitat—food, water, cover, and a place for wildlife to raise their young—people can create a place for wildlife in gardens of all shapes and sizes. The National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife™ program helps people recognize what their garden already has, and also what they can add to easily attract even more birds, butterflies and amazing wildlife. Learn how to get your garden recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®. >>
• Schoolyard Habitats®—In 1996, the Schoolyard Habitats program was created under the the Garden for Wildlife program umbrella to meet the growing interest and distinct needs of schools and school districts in creating and restoring wildlife habitat on school grounds. The program focuses specifically on assisting school communities in the use of school grounds as learning sites for wildlife conservation and cross-curricular learning.
• Community Wildlife Habitat™—A Community Wildlife Habitat, also part of our Garden for Wildlife program, is a community that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community—in backyards, schools, and in public areas such as parks, community gardens, places of worship and businesses.

Planting Trees for Wildlife

Through our Trees for Wildlife™ program, the National Wildlife Federation connects trees to tree planters, throwing in fun, hands-on activities and rewards to boot. Designed for scout troops, school groups and other youth organizations, this program helps young people learn about the importance of trees and how to plant and take care of them for the future. The National Wildlife Federation organizes events and also provides trees to other groups.

• Apply for free trees for your planting event
• Donate to help us provide trees to planting events