LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
EDGEFIELD, S.C.— The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) continues to deliver on its commitment to save the habitat and the hunt as it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, organizations that share a vision with the conservation group.
The NWTF’s Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative addresses the modern day challenges that wildlife and hunting face through collaborative approaches such as this historic MOU.
“We’re losing 6,000 acres of habitat every day. Hunters fund conservation but now we’re at the point where less than 10 percent of the American population hunts, so the funding source is going away,” said NWTF CEO George Thornton. “We know we can’t solve this alone. It’s bigger than one organization.”
The NWTF has had many successes in its 40-year history. Together, NWTF’s dedicated volunteers, professional staff and committed partners have invested $454 million in wildlife conservation and improved more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat. Today, the NWTF introduces more than 100,000 people to the outdoors every year.
“The NWTF’s solid reputation was built on restoring wild turkey populations from the brink of extinction,” said Becky Humphries, NWTF executive vice president of conservation. “The comeback of the North American wild turkey is arguably this country’s greatest conservation success story. Today, however, loss of quality wildlife habitat and factors beyond our control, such as weather, have negatively impacted turkeys populations nationwide. What we do in the coming decade will be instrumental in not only enhancing wild turkey populations but also in the continuation of hunting and quality wildlife habitat for countless species.”
The NWTF’s Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever before. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million new hunters and open access to 500,000 new acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.
