Conservation Organizations Partner for Appalachian Wildlife

Songbirds and game species alike are reaping the benefits of the work of the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), a collective effort involving the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and other conservation organizations creating and restoring vital habitat in the Appalachian Mountains region.

“While the main focus of the NWTF is the wild turkey, our work is mutually beneficial for a multitude of species,” said Becky Humphries, NWTF chief conservation officer. “If we hope to continue to enjoy our diverse and abundant wildlife, we must all work together for habitat conservation.”

The AMJV regional partnership brings together organizations focusing on the sustainability of songbirds, game species, and natural resources to prioritize and coordinate management activities for efficient, effective conservation. Other NWTF and AMJV projects include the Golden-winged Warbler and Longleaf Pine initiatives that improve habitat on private land for countless wildlife and plants species that share the same habitat.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the NWTF have reached more than 425 private landowners across areas in need of forest habitat restoration. Through NRCS funding, NWTF conservation staff has helped landowners develop wildlife management plans, improve habitat on their property and gain access to government programs that help fund habitat improvements. The NWTF and partners also are matching the $1.75 million in NRCS funding.

“The support and involvement of organizations like NWTF are essential to the success of the AMJV partnership,” said Todd Fearer, AMJV coordinator. “People don’t always realize that forest songbird conservation is also good for many game species, and vice versa. We advocate using active and sustainable forest management practices that improve food and cover for high priority forest songbirds and popular game species like deer, turkey, grouse and rabbits. As an avid hunter, I believe communicating and promoting this link is critical to ensuring diverse and abundant wildlife into the future.”

The National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative and NWTF are partnering to restore quail populations by addressing the most critical conservation needs of wild turkeys and bobwhite quail. The NWTF uses cutting edge geospatial technology to identify and improve critical habitat projects.

Contact

Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.