NFWF Announces $1.1 Million in Grants to Restore Northeast Forests and Rivers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 19, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and partners today announced more than $1.1 million to support projects in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont that will improve grassland habitat, enhance populations of golden-winged warbler and improve fish passage for river herring, Atlantic salmon, American shad, American eel and other aquatic wildlife. 

The four grants, awarded through NFWF’s Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund, will leverage more than $1.2 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $2.3 million. The Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund is a public-private partnership between NFWF, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and Sylvamo.

“A decade into this program, we continue to build on previous successes in improving and restoring habitat for wildlife throughout the Northeast,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These grants will advance innovative conservation strategies designed to benefit wildlife populations as well as local communities and economies.”

The projects supported by the four grants announced today will support the goals of NFWF’s Northeast Watersheds Business Plan, a 10-year conservation investment strategy for the region to improve habitat management practices and increase populations of focal species supported by those habitats, including brook trout, river herring, golden-winged warbler and bobolink.

“We are committed to the success of the entire ecosystem, including the communities where we live and forests we love. This partnership enhances sustainably managed forests, allowing them to support biodiversity habitat preservation for generations to come,” said Dr. Nathan Elser, global sustainability manager of Sylvamo. “As the world’s paper company, we are proud to support partners like NFWF who further our commitment of responsible forest stewardship.”

Grants announced include: 

• $299,500 to the Maine Department of Marine Resources to finalize planning and design at Grand Falls to restore fish passage along the St. Croix River
• $222,300 to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to improve forest health and golden-winged warbler habitat on state land in the St. Lawrence uplands
• $283,400 to the Ruffed Grouse Society to restore golden-winged warbler habitat on private land in New York
• $299,600 to the Massachusetts Audubon Society to increase adoption of grassland habitat management in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont to benefit fledgling bobolinks
• From 2015 to 2025 the program has awarded more than $16 million in grant funds to 110 grants, leveraging more than $26 million in matching contributions from grantees, for a total conservation impact of $42 million throughout New England and New York.

A complete list of the 2025 grants made through the Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund is available here.    

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. NFWF works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Since its founding, NFWF has supported more than 7,000 grantee organizations and funded over 23,300 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $11.3 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org. 

About the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. The public can also connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube channel and download photos from our Flickr page.

About the U.S. Forest Service
Established in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

About Sylvamo
Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM) is the world’s paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Our vision is to be the employer, supplier and investment of choice. We transform renewable resources into papers that people depend on for education, communication and entertainment. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, we employ more than 6,500 colleagues. Net sales for 2025 were $3.4 billion. For more information, please visit Sylvamo.com.

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Contact: 

Matt Winter, 202-857-0166, matt.winter@nfwf.org