BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Walmart and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced a 10-year, $34.5 million renewal of the historic Acres for America conservation program. This new commitment from Walmart, combined with previous contributions, represents the largest corporate donation to NFWF since the Foundation’s creation by Congress in 1984, for a total of more than $100 million since the program began.

Acres for America began in 2005, when Walmart U.S. made its first commitment of $34.5 million to NFWF to fund the conservation of one acre of wildlife habitat for every acre of land developed in the United States — estimated to be approximately 138,000 at the time. Over its 20-year history, Acres for America has far surpassed that goal, with more than 2 million acres of wildlife habitat protected — an area greater in size than the combined land area of Rhode Island and Delaware.

Acres for America has supported projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These landscape-scale projects have benefited countless wildlife species, conserved natural habitats vital to community resilience and quality of life, and opened new lands to public recreation. 

Through voluntary conservation easements and acquisitions connecting already-protected lands such as national parks and state wildlife areas, Acres for America has helped conserve a much larger area — more than 10 million acres.

"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.," said Hunter Hart, senior vice president of Walmart Realty. "What we've achieved since then has gone far beyond what was first imagined, and we're excited to continue this commitment and working alongside NFWF." 

"Walmart’s sustained commitment to conservation is as inspirational as it is significant," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "The company has helped make more than 125 projects a reality from Maine to California and everywhere in between. Thousands of species of our native wildlife are dependent on the habitats protected and connected by Acres for America projects. This focus on conserving the best places in America is something meaningful that will benefit our wildlife and local communities for generations to come."

The program holds a competitive grant process each year to identify the highest quality projects from across America. To date, the program has leveraged Walmart’s more than $70 million philanthropic investment with significant federal, state and local community funding from other entities to generate more than $1.2 billion in matching contributions.

This year’s awards include: 

• The south end of Topsail Island on Shoreline Drive in North Carolina will be protected and 100 acres of barrier island conserved. The project will protect sand dunes, maritime shrub forest and more than a mile and a half of shoreline which provide habitat for several federally listed species including sea turtles and piping plovers. In addition, the project will secure permanent public access for the local community.
• In the northwest corner of Rhode Island, a 930-acre acquisition will add to the Buck Hill and George Washington Management Areas, and by connecting these existing lands already under protection, will form a protected landscape of more than 7,000 acres of wildlife corridor.
• On a working ranch in Nevada, 21,449 acres of wildlife habitat will be placed under a conservation easement to protect important sagebrush steppe, wet meadow, and native grassland habitat essential for mule deer, elk and pronghorn. This easement will also ensure public access for activities including hunting, hiking, fishing and birding.
• In the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, a 13,836-acres forestland conservation easement will provide habitat for large mammals like moose and deer, federally threatened Canada lynx, two globally rare songbirds, and will protect 31 miles of streams and ponds, providing important habitat for brook trout and landlocked salmon. The easement will also provide public access for hiking, fishing and hunting, and includes over 25 miles of snowmobile and ATV trails.
• In the forested landscape of South Carolina, a large-scale conservation easement will protect regionally significant bottomland forests and wetlands that support numerous migratory birds and aquatic species, secure local water supplies and create additional public recreation opportunities.
• Along the Missouri and Mississippi river floodplains in Illinois and Missouri, 3,200 acres of floodplain habitat will be protected. The project will allow for future ecosystem restoration in order to create important wetland habitat, including critical stopover habitat for waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway migration route.
• Adjacent to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California, 3,000 acres will be conserved via land acquisition. The project will protect some of the most important habitat for the world-famous McCloud River rainbow trout and support Indigenous-led endangered salmon restoration.

Starting this year, Walmart will also expand the Acres for America partnership to include its outdoor brand Ozark Trail. As a brand dedicated to providing customers with quality, affordable products to get outside and enjoy nature regardless of budget, Ozark Trail and Acres for America’s missions are closely aligned.

Visit the Acres for America Program page to learn more about this program, view this year’s grant slate and watch a short video commemorating 20 years of conservation through Acres for America.

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About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 255 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2024 revenue of $648 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private contributions. NFWF works with government, nonprofit and corporate partners to find solutions for the most intractable conservation challenges. Using science-based conservation and competitive grant programs, over the last 40 years NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

Rob Blumenthal
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(202) 857-0166
rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org

Mariel Messier
Walmart
1-(800)-331-0085
Mariel.Messier@walmart.com