The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Wal-Mart announced today (April 12, 2005) a groundbreaking partnership program, Acres for America, which will conserve critical wildlife habitats for future generations. Wal-Mart has committed $35 million for the next 10 years to conserve at least one acre of priority wildlife habitat for every acre developed for company use. This new program is one of the largest ever public-private partnerships and the first time a company has tied its footprint to land conservation.

Acres for America will permanently conserve at least one acre of priority wildlife habitat for every developed acre of Wal-Mart’s current footprint, as well as the company’s future development over the next 10 years. This puts the minimum total acres to be protected at 138,000. Lands conserved will benefit a wide variety of wildlife, including large and small mammals, freshwater and saltwater fish, migratory and neo-tropical birds and native plants.

Wal-Mart’s Acres for America program has identified key habitats throughout the country working in partnership with the nation’s local, state and national conservation organizations and public land management agencies resulting in five leadership grants. These signature projects include:

• Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
• Sherfield Cave and the Headwaters of the Buffalo National River, Arkansas
• North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
• Back to Home Waters/ Squaw Creek, Oregon
• Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership, Maine

To learn more about Acres for America click on the following links.

The Wal-Mart Foundation

Acres for America home page

Acres for America Press Release

NEFF Press Release

Conservation Fund Press Release

DLFP Project Profile

Project Grant Announcement

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Video tour of the projects

Interactive page of information about the projects

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