Protecting the places Closest to Home for People and Wildlife
The National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Urban Wildlife Refuge Program reaches beyond refuge boundaries and into communities throughout the United States to connect people to nature through dynamic outreach and by cultivating innovative cross-sector partnerships.
The Urban Wildlife Refuge Program (Urban Program) partners with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conservation Corps, and local county offices and advocates to create meaningful connections for everyone. From habitat restoration to archery lessons to wildlife walks, we build a strong conservation community and bridge the gap of connecting communities to conservation efforts right where they live.
We also partner with public youth groups, schools, and universities to inspire future conservation leaders, as well as cultivate a lifelong commitment to public lands and stewardship.
With 80 percent of Americans living in large metro regions and becoming increasingly disconnected from nature, building a connected conservation constituency is more important than ever. In order to better illustrate the importance of wildlife refuges, the Urban Program meets people where they are and fosters new ways of thinking about and engaging with nature. By providing expertise in communications, outreach, partnerships, advocacy, and other areas, the Urban Program increases the capacity of refuges, nonprofit partners, and Friends groups to plan and implement new programs and raise awareness of the National Wildlife Refuge System and conservation principles.
From the Greater Miami area in Florida to Esperanza Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles, the Urban Program brings people to nature and nature to people in ways big and small. Regions where the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Urban Program is currently active include South Florida, the Northeast, and Southern California.
Discover Your Region
South Florida
Connect with green spaces and careers through Pocket Refuges, floating wetlands, and conservation immersion in partnership with the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. In Palm Beach County, this refuge is one of the largest refuges in the entire National Wildlife Refuge system!
Northeast
Break down barriers to nature engagement at the Lenape National Wildlife Refuge Complex through community partnerships and programming. The Complex includes 4 breathtaking refuges across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Southern California
Partnered with the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, explore the Los Angeles River ecosystem and the Baldwin Hills Parklands with recreation, education, and workforce development opportunities.
As we embrace the spirit of Latino Conservation Week, we come together to honor and pay homage to the invaluable contributions made by the Latino community in our shared endeavor to conserve and protect wildlife and wild lands across the country. This year, we proudly support the congressional resolution proposing the official designation of the third week of July as Latino Conservation Week, introduced by Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA) this week. Through this symbolic gesture, we signal our commitment to fostering sustainability, promoting inclusivity, and safeguarding the future of the National Wildlife Refuge System.