Since 2005, Walmart has worked with NFWF to establish Acres for America, a 10-year, $35 million commitment to purchase and preserve one acre of wildlife habitat in the U.S. for every acre of land developed by the company. The program has protected critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife and far surpassed its original goals, becoming one of the country’s most effective conservation partnerships.
In 2011, Walmart expanded its Acres for America investments to include urban conservation projects. It has supported conservation work in cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Bridgeport, Portland (Oregon), San Diego, and Washington, D.C.
Acres for America priorities include:
- Providing access for people to enjoy the outdoors;
- Conserving critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife;
- Connecting existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect migration routes; and
- Ensuring the future of rural economies that depend on forestry, ranching and recreation.
To date, Acres for America has invested in projects in 30 states and the District of Columbia, permanently conserving nearly 830,000 acres and connecting more than 7 million protected acres—an area larger than Maryland and Delaware combined.