Wildlife Conservation Initiative

The Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WCI) is a collaborative program focused on conserving wildlife and biodiversity on private working forests across the United States. Established through a 2023 memorandum of understanding among the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, the initiative promotes voluntary, proactive conservation. A 2024 agreement between NAFO and the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies further advanced this work.

WCI brings forest owners, regulators, researchers, and conservation partners together to address species conservation at scale, support sustainable forest management, and reduce regulatory risk for landowners. Its projects investigate how managed forests can benefit at-risk species and their habitats, including pollinators, wood turtles, migratory birds, mussels, red tree voles, gopher tortoises, and butterflies. Activities include biodiversity surveys, habitat research, and conservation planning across multiple regions. NAFO members make millions of acres available for conservation projects and maintain streamside management zones that support wildlife movement, water quality, and aquatic habitats.