Our planet's incredible array of wildlife occupies an equally diverse variety of habitats, from the frozen tundra to the sizzling desert. When these habitats are threatened, so too are the plants and animals that call these places home. For decades, Defenders of Wildlife has served a leading role in shaping smart policies to conserve, protect and restore wildlife and habitats on lands and waters across the country . A large portion of our habitat work focuses on our national wildlife refuges, national forests, national monuments, and other public lands and waters, as these areas represent some of the last, best places for wildlife to thrive. We also work extensively on private lands in partnership with private landowners and state and tribal agencies to encourage people to protect and restore key habitats on private, tribal and state lands. 

Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity

We work with conservation partners and agencies across the country to identify and protect habitat connectivity for wide-ranging species.

Federal Lands Conservation

We work to protect public wildlands and waters, including  national wildlife refuges, national forests and grasslands, national monuments and national marine sanctuaries. 

Private Lands Conservation

We work with private landowners to implement land management strategies that benefit wildlife and land productivity.

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Border wall javelina
Matt Clark

Border Wall

From the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border passes through regions rich in biological diversity and communities engaged in conservation. For decades, people have teamed up to restore habitat and at-risk wildlife, to keep linkages intact and to protect large natural areas.

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News

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U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Shannon Estenoz are joined by other Department of the Interior staff on Monday to add a plank commemorating the designation of the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area at the boardwalk of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Vero Beach, Florida.
Vero Beach, Fla.

New Refuge System Designation Expands Florida Wildlife Protections

Defenders of Wildlife joined today with conservation groups and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to celebrate the official designation of the Everglades to Gulf

Wildlife and Wild Places

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Rocky Mountain Landscape
Image Credit
Jim Williams, USFWS