In 2005, Walmart launched the Acres for America program, committing to fund an acre of wildlife conservation for every acre the company developed for commercial purposes. Now, Walmart has renewed its commitment by announcing another 10-year, $34.5 million wildlife conservation partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to run the program.
Congress created the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in 1984, and Walmart has been its most generous corporate donor. With this recent pledge, the company has committed $100 million over the foundation’s history to wildlife conservation, producing serious results. NFWF supports conservation efforts in all 50 states and U.S. territories, describing itself as “the nation’s largest private conservation foundation.” The organization has completed more than 22,000 projects since its founding, and its private and foundation donors outnumber its federal partners by more than 53 to 15, proving that privately funded conservation works. Its partnership with Walmart is an excellent example of this truth in action.
Walmart initially intended Acres for America to be a ‘replacement’ program that would offset Walmart’s commercial development by protecting space for wildlife. The company estimated that the program would protect 138,000 acres upon its founding. Acres for America has protected over 2 million acres of land in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
“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 US,” explained 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 investments in the program spurred an additional $1.2 billion in matching funds from federal, state, and local sources. NFWF allocates this money through through a competitive grant process. In 2024 alone, these funds protected thousands upon thousands of acres. Projects include the protection of 21,000 acres of mule deer, elk, and pronghorn habitat in Nevada, a large conservation easement in South Carolina to protect wetlands and forests, nearly 14,000 protected acres of streams and ponds protected in Maine, and more.
“Walmart’s sustained commitment to conservation is as inspirational as it is significant,” commented 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. Thousands of species of our native wildlife depend 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.”
Acres for America has helped make significant strides in wildlife conservation nationwide. In the coming years, the program hopes to continue conserving critical habitats for birds, fish, plants, and wildlife, protecting migration routes, providing access for people to enjoy the outdoors, and protecting the future of local economies that depend on ranching, forestry, and recreation. With another 10 years and the funding to complete the work, the investment will help protect and conserve much more land and wildlife.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
