National Wildlife Federation Blog

For 20 years, the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) has brought an essential idea to the environmental movement: protecting our climate and creating good jobs are not competing goals. They are part of the same vision for a healthier, more prosperous future.

This blog is part of a series introducing National Wildlife Federation’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC). Established in 2023, the EJAC provides advice and guidance not only to the Environmental Justice, Health, and Community Resilience and Revitalization program, but to the National Wildlife Federation and its board of directors.

The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Education & Engagement (E&E) team expresses our appreciation for our 2026 Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This enterprising group of six young leaders, ages 15-22, brought a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, education, and career preparation and planning.

One of the best things you can do for wildlife, the environment, and even your wallet is to intentionally use the fallen leaves and other organic matter in your garden. Discover all of the benefits provided by leaving the leaves! There are so many wildlife species that depend on fallen leaves. From moths, butterflies, and fireflies that often overwinter in the leaf layer to reptiles and birds that use it as a foraging location.

In the early morning hours of a hot day at the end of July, anglers from across the country gathered on a dock in Point Judith, Rhode Island, to spend the day on the ocean fishing at wind turbines over 15 nautical miles offshore. The anglers excitedly loaded their poles, coolers, and other gear onto the vessel before the sun was higher than the boom of the sailboats docked in the marina.

As Miss USA premieres on this final week of August 2026, we thought we’d throw our own beauty pageant featuring fresh, bold, talented, and diverse contestants. Don’t miss this fierce competition of feathers and scales! Who’s your favorite beauty queen on Miss Wildlife USA? Talents: Black rails are typically found in wetlands along the east coast and the Gulf. Unlike other rail species, black rails tend to inhabit shallower marshes to decrease competition.

Across the country, temperatures climbed into the triple digits this summer, putting over 100 million people under a heat alert in early August. Summers like this have become increasingly common. Year after year, extreme heat is breaking records and heat waves are occurring more often and lasting longer—46 days longer, in fact. Extreme heat has dire impacts on our public health, claiming over 700 lives in the United States each year.

Native trees are some of the best neighbors a community can have. Their branches provide homes for nesting birds, their flowers feed hungry pollinators, and their roots protect waterways and reduce flooding. They also make our neighborhoods healthier by cooling down streets, cleaning the air, and creating safe places to gather. Every native tree strengthens the community around it, benefiting both wildlife and the people who call it home. Want to know which tree you’re most like?

Throwing a party is often how we bring people together and build community, which is essential for human well-being. Trees may not throw parties, but they are still important community members that support wildlife and humans alike. A native tree is any tree that has naturally occurred in your region for hundreds or thousands of years. Native trees, in particular, support native wildlife species by providing food, cover, and places to raise young.

Sacred Grounds™ is a National Wildlife Federation program that recognizes congregations, houses of worship, and faith communities who both create wildlife habitat and actively link faith practices with caring for the environment. Throughout year-round programming, we work alongside local partners in assisting with project planning and technical expertise to increase native plant gardens.