Restoring gray wolves to ancestral habitat in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho through a common-sense approach that balances the concerns of landowners with the needs of wildlife. NWF and its activists then vigorously protested a court-ordered wolf eviction order that threatened to undo one of America's greatest conservation success stories. A federal appeals court overturned the order, agreeing with NWF that these essential predators and their offspring should stay and continue to thrive as they restore balance to a Northern Rockies ecosystem.

Getting Congress and the American public behind the largest ecosystem restoration effort ever attempted: bringing Florida's legendary Everglades back from a century's worth of assaults from agricultural growth, urban sprawl and misguided "re-plumbing" programs, which threaten the endangered Florida panther and 67 other wildlife species along with the region's economic health. NWF is pushing hard to persuade lawmakers to fund an historic plan to save the "River of Grass" for wildlife, people and posterity.

Saving more than half a million ducks and other migratory waterfowl from potential disaster in the "prairie pothole" region of South Dakota. In an out-of-court settlement, the federal Natural Resource and Conservation Service agreed to cancel its illegal attempt to revise the definition of "wetlands" in the state, which could have led to the permanent draining of thousands of wetlands, with potentially devastating effects on people as well as vital habitat and nesting grounds. The settlement resulting from the suit filed by NWF and other groups assures that South Dakota's two million acres of wetlands will be managed for both people and wildlife.

Leading efforts to protect America's flood plains, wetlands and coastal regions by publishing "Higher Ground," a ground-breaking report which shows how voluntary buyouts of flood-prone property owners can take victims out of harm's way, saving taxpayer dollars while restoring wildlife habitat. Our work is changing old ways of thinking about flood plains nationwide, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has initiated a national "build smarter" approach to flood plain management.

Seizing a rare chance to build an enduring conservation legacy for people and wildlife, NWF urged Congress and the White House to dedicate a portion of off-shore oil and gas leasing revenues to fund long-term programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund. After we "rallied the troops," more than 800 local, state and national groups -- ranging from Ducks Unlimited to the United Hebrew Congregation of America -- joined us in urging Congress to pass the landmark measure.

Watching with pride as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed peregrine falcons from the endangered species list, and proposed that our national symbol, the bald eagle, also be delisted based on its dramatic comeback in most areas. NWF activism and education paved the road back for both of these charismatic raptors. But as we celebrate the overall trend to recovery, we're also calling for continued monitoring of both species, and safeguards for populations that haven't attained recovery goals.

Working with the timber industry, other conservation groups, government agencies and local citizens to build a common-ground coalition that produced an innovative citizen-management plan to bring the threatened grizzly bear back to a vast wilderness area straddling Idaho and Montana. The "preferred alternative" plan championed by NWF awaits final approval from the federal government.

Working to combat the growing menace of climate change, which threatens wildlife and people everywhere. A recent NWF report presented compelling evidence that global warming is the latest assault on the world's already imperiled coral reefs. It was an important tool in our ongoing efforts to mobilize wildlife advocates everywhere against the threat of climate change to all life -- for example, researching the effects of climate change on specific wildlife species worldwide, and pushing for ratification of the "Kyoto" global agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming.

Traveling to Seattle for the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Ministerial Meeting, where we urged the WTO to adopt global trade rules that promote free trade without blocking safeguards for the environment and protections for the health, quality of life and aspirations of people everywhere. We're reaching out to everyone affected by global trade policies to ensure that these vital concerns are not ignored.

Collaborating with a cadre of caring activists trying to save the virtually pristine Copper River Delta of Alaska -- a unique national forest region teeming with wildlife which includes one of the planet's most fragile and productive wetlands. The region is threatened by potentially ruinous developments proposals, and we're teaming with like-minded groups, Native Alaskans and others to build support for designating the Copper River Delta and its watershed as permanently protected wilderness.