EDGEFIELD, S.C. — As the NWTF geared up to celebrate its historic 50th Anniversary all year in 2023, the federation set out to positively impact 1 million acres from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. The NWTF officially surpassed the unprecedented 1-million-acre goal on Dec. 18, and as of today, has 1,009,053 positively impacted acres reported and is validating additional acres before the year closes.
“This is a monumental accomplishment for our organization, and it is the direct result of the hard work our talented staff, volunteers and partners accomplish daily,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “Positively impacting 1 million acres in 365 days would not have been possible just a few years ago; however, we have steadily grown our effectiveness and overall impact as an organization year after year.”
Bringing the NWTF’s total impact to over 23 million acres since tracking began in 1985, the 1 million acres accomplished in 2023 was an ambitious task and was a hard-earned effort spearheaded by the NWTF’s conservation staff across the country. Acres that were part of 2023’s 1 million total include private-, federal- and state-owned lands that the NWTF positively impacted. Positively impacted acres are broken into two categories: conserved or enhanced acres and influenced acres.
Conserved or enhanced acres are acres where the NWTF has a direct impact on the ground. A significant amount of conserved or enhanced acres were accomplished with a deliberate focus on conservation at a landscape scale though the NWTF’s initiatives across its Big Six Regions of Conservation. Landscape scale efforts also include work done through the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and on private lands through the NWTF’s National Forestry Initiative.
NWTF state chapters also played a major role in bolstering conserved and enhanced acres by funding projects through the Super Fund, including land acquisitions, long-term habitat enhancements, equipment purchases, annual plantings and more. The Super Fund is a funding model where NWTF volunteers raise money at banquets and other types of fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states (and beyond).
Influenced acres are those where the NWTF may influence future habitat enhancement but cannot directly tie its efforts or spending to a specific on-the-ground action. For example, acres that benefited from creating conservation plans for landowners and conservation education field days are examples of influenced acres. This year’s positively impacted acreage total includes everything from 1-acre pollinator plantings in state wildlife management areas to landscape-level conservation efforts encompassing multiple national forests.
“What better way to celebrate 50 years of the NWTF than challenging ourselves like never before,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “This accomplishment is both a tribute to the greats that have set the stage before us, and a jumping point as we begin to deliver our mission for the next 50 years. Our foot is on the gas, and we’re not letting off!”
Acres impacted by the NWTF directly support the NWTF’s mission and benefit wild turkeys and public access for hunters, but they also amplify the NWTF’s Four Shared Values: clean water, healthy forests and wildlife habitats, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. These critical values allow the NWTF’s partners and volunteers to increase the scope of work while staying true to the NWTF mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.
What’s more, the NWTF’s 2023 landmark accomplishment speaks to how the organization’s impact on wildlife habitat is increasing significantly year after year, as well as its reach and partnership expansion. The previous high-water mark for acres impacted by the NWTF in 12 months was from August 2021 to August 2022. In that time, the NWTF conserved or enhanced about 772,000 acres.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
