Karmactive Staff
In a move that strengthens wildlife habitat protection across the United States, Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) have announced a $34.5 million investment over the next decade to expand its Acres for America conservation program. The investment brings Walmart’s total contribution to over $100 million since the program’s inception in 2005.
The conservation initiative has protected over 2 million acres of wildlife habitat – surpassing its initial goal of conserving one acre for every acre of the company’s development footprint, estimated at 138,000 acres when the program launched.
“Acres for America was a simple idea in the beginning, a way for Walmart to play a part in preserving key natural habitats across the U.S.,” says Hunter Hart, Senior Vice President of Walmart Realty. “What we’ve achieved since then has gone far beyond what was first imagined.”
Conservation Impact and Scale
The program’s reach extends across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with 126 projects completed to date. Through voluntary conservation easements and strategic land acquisitions connecting existing protected areas like national parks and state wildlife areas, the initiative has helped conserve approximately 10 million acres.
Ryan Pettigrew, senior manager for Acres for America at Walmart, explains the program’s dual focus: “Acres for America permanently protects land across the country that’s significant for nature and wildlife. It also enables local management and public access to the land, so that generations to come can enjoy our natural resources.”
2024 Conservation Projects
This year’s $4 million in grants will protect over 100,000 acres across seven states:
- North Carolina: 100 acres of barrier island conservation on Topsail Island, protecting sea turtle and piping plover habitats
- Rhode Island: 930-acre addition to Buck Hill and George Washington Management Areas
- Nevada: 21,449-acre conservation easement preserving sagebrush steppe habitat for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn
- Maine: 13,836-acre forestland conservation protecting Canada lynx habitat and 31 miles of waterways
- South Carolina: Protection of bottomland forests supporting migratory birds
- Illinois/Missouri: 3,200 acres of floodplain habitat conservation
- California: 3,000-acre acquisition near Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Financial Impact and Partnerships
The program leverages public-private partnerships effectively. Chris West, director of NFWF’s Rocky Mountain Regional Office, notes: “Sometimes it’s the final piece of the puzzle, the funding that is needed to close the deal.”
Walmart’s $70 million investment has generated over $1.2 billion in matching contributions from federal, state, and local sources. Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF, emphasizes the program’s impact: “Thousands of species of our native wildlife are dependent on the habitats protected and connected by Acres for America projects.”
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Conservation Context
The program addresses critical biodiversity challenges in the U.S., where:
- 34% of plants face extinction risk
- 40% of animals are threatened
- 41% of ecosystems risk collapse
Public Access and Recreation
Many protected lands offer public recreation opportunities, including:
- Hiking trails
- Fishing access
- Wildlife viewing areas
- Hunting grounds
- Snowmobile and ATV trails
The conservation areas also support local economies through sustainable forestry, ranching, and outdoor recreation activities.
Looking ahead, Pettigrew shares his vision: “I’m proud of what the program has accomplished in its first 20 years. In the next 10 years, we’re excited about our continued work with NFWF to protect even more special places across the country.”
