Walmart Invests $34.5M to Protect Over 10 Million Acres Nationwide

Walmart pumps $34.5 million into wildlife conservation, pushing total investment past $100 million - what drove this massive expansionext?

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Initial goal of protecting 138,000 acres has exploded to over 2 million acres of preserved wildlife habitat across all 50 states.

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Through 126 completed projects, the initiative has helped safeguard approximately 10 million acres by connecting existing protected areas.

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Seven states receive $4 million in 2024 grants, with Nevada securing 21,449 acres for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn habitats.

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Maine's 13,836-acre forestland conservation protects Canada lynx and spans 31 miles of vital waterways.

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How did $70 million in initial funding generate over $1.2 billion in matching contributions from government sources?

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Stark reality: 34% of U.S. plants face extinction while 40% of animals stand threatened

[{"selector":"#anim-c133c981-099a-41d8-8fc3-2ec9852063bc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e694f186-252d-44cf-9b5d-05d8c63f33ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20abc0a8-1b01-4741-91a6-5b8bb5351091","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1bb6df4-41f0-4ae6-8bbd-aad9099a01e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e99a48e-c704-41b6-bc2e-331ae5da82f4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: garyjwood (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Protected lands offer public recreation from hiking to hunting, while supporting local economies through sustainable practices.

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What's next for this conservation giant as it enters its third decade of habitat protection?

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