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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Students, parents and faculty from FernLeaf Community Charter School remove invasive plants and plant new growth along the bank of Cane Creek in Fletcher, N.C.
Fletcher, N.C.

Shade Your Stream Program Plants New Life Along North Carolina Creek

The banks of Cane Creek came alive Friday with hard work — much of it by small, determined hands. Students of the FernLeaf Community School

Wildlife and Wild Places

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Rocky Mountain Landscape
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Jim Williams, USFWS