The Movement Today: Helping Wildlife and People Thrive
Today, the Garden for Wildlife® movement and the native plant habitat movement it inspired reach far beyond individual backyards. Using intentional, ecofriendly methods and planting native habitats has led to greater connections across communities to create and care for biodiversity improving ecosystem health. This effort aligns with National Wildlife Federation’s Vision Statement centering wildlife, people, and ecosystems.
Over 300,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat® Sites
Certified Wildlife Habitats®, the cornerstone of our grassroots effort, has grown to over 300,000 certified sites and contributes to an international movement, inspiring millions to restore habitat throughout our cities, towns, and neighborhoods through native plants.
Certified Wildlife Habitat® sites have been studied by third party researchers and demonstrate significant increase in biodiversity and abundance of wildlife. Learn about the science here!
Over 4 Million Native Plant Habitat Acres
National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® network along with other native plant habitat and educational programs have engaged over 7 million people resulting in an estimated 4 million native plant habitat acres created in suburban yards, rural properties, urban gardens, school districts, small businesses, colleges and universities, places of worship, public gardens, and community spaces across North America and at embassies around the world. It also involves collaboration with federal partners, horticulture and ecological gardening experts, conservation allies, scientists, and local community leaders.
NWF National, Regional & Affiliates Support
This growth continues to expand through the ongoing leadership and outreach of the National Wildlife Federation’s national and regional staff and state affiliates: the Community Wildlife Habitat™ , Schoolyard Habitats® and Sacred Grounds™ programs, campaigns such as Butterfly Heroes™, The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, and Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, science collaborators like Dr. Doug Tallamy, and the efforts of key partners like homebuilder Taylor Morrison, Wild Birds Unlimited, Links, Inc.
Championed from Coast to Coast
Real Estate Development
Taylor Morrison, one of the nation’s largest real estate developers, has partnered with NWF to bring Certified Wildlife Habitat® and NWF’s new Open Space Certifications to its development projects.
Lifestyle Media Features
Certified Wildlife Habitats® are often featured in home design and lifestyle magazines, including Martha Stewart, HGTV, New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Notable Certified Wildlife Habitat® Sites
Notable Certified Wildlife Habitat® sites include hundreds of public gardens, zoos, and museum properties, including: the Smithsonian Gardens, Denver Zoo, Facebook/Meta headquarters, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and Disney’s Epcot Center and Animal Kingdom.
About Garden for Wildlife, Inc.
For over 50 years the National Wildlife Federation has inspired Americans to garden for wildlife with its Garden for Wildlife® program. In 2021, the National Wildlife Federation proudly introduced the Garden for Wildlife, Inc., a new enterprise distinct from NWF but with a shared commitment to mission. The vision behind that enterprise was clear: to make native plants accessible to more people, furthering our conservation mission while also generating additional revenues to support our cause. You can visit Garden for Wildlife Inc. and see its native plant offerings here.
