RESTON, Va. — For its unrivaled record in protecting Idaho’s abundant natural resources and public lands, the National Wildlife Federation honored the Idaho Wildlife Federation with the National Conservation Achievement: Affiliate of the Year Award. Since 1936, the Idaho Wildlife Federation has been the state’s leading voice and influence in ensuring the people’s right to clean waters and public lands, and curtailing the decline of game and wildlife populations, setting an example and standard for other conservation groups across our nation.

“For more than eight decades, the Idaho Wildlife Federation has been working relentlessly to grow and advance the conservation movement, inspiring generations of Idahoans to join the call to protect habitat, local wildlife and natural resources,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “The National Wildlife Federation is pleased to recognize the leadership of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, a cherished member of our Federation family. Through perseverance and passion, their work is boosting Idaho affiliates and individual members, partnering to promote and achieve the policies necessary to guarantee ecologic restoration, environmental education, and healthy wildlife and game populations.”

“The Idaho Wildlife Federation is honored to receive and accept this meaningful award. Conservation is the ultimate goal of our work, but all of our victories have only been possible with the support of our members and sister federations,” said Brian Brooks, executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation. “As we approach nine decades of fighting to protect wildlife and our natural world, we are confident that our partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and other local federations will allow us to continue providing solutions to complex natural resource issues.”

Starting in 1966, the National Conservation: Affiliate of the Year Award has been honoring affiliate organizations for its conservation accomplishments and contributions to collaborative efforts across the Federation. Since then, the National Wildlife Federation has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. Previous honorees have included former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama, and other national leaders, including U.S. Senator John McCain and filmmaker Robert Redford.

The National Wildlife Federation is America's largest and most trusted conservation organization. Its 52 affiliates lead critical wildlife conservation efforts in their states and territories, and pass policy resolutions each year that guide the National Wildlife Federation’s work.

The Idaho Wildlife Federation is Idaho’s oldest statewide conservation organization protecting sportsman interests. Founded by sporting and wildlife groups, they have led many of the state’s historic environmental victories, such as the creation of an independent Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission, the launch of hunter education and safety programs in all seven Idaho Fish and Game Department regions, and the congressional passage of the Central Idaho Wilderness Act in 1980.

Today, the Idaho Wildlife Federation is the voice of Idaho’s wildlife, habitat, public lands, and sporting interests. In the state legislature they serve a daily presence to advance proactive legislation for the benefit of wildlife and access, and defeat bills that would roll back fish and wildlife protections, privatize wildlife, and seize shared public lands for sale or special interest exploitation. They believe in involving local constituents to create local solutions.