A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take flight over one of the country’s data center hotspots. Within the hour, I got a bird’s-eye view of what attracts data centers to an area like the Columbia River: hydroelectric dams, which provide plentiful energy, large swaths of land to house the large buildings and servers, and energy generation and grid infrastructure. 

But what was truly striking was the size of these data centers and the scale of the supporting energy infrastructure nearby. Like many others, I’ve heard considerable discussion about energy demands, but seeing the onsite generation gave me a clearer perspective on how much energy is required. 

The Larger the Growth, the Bigger the Impacts

Nearly 20 years ago, Oregon’s first data center was built in The Dalles by Google. Since then, the Lower Columbia River has grown into a data center hotspot. Columbia Riverkeeper, a nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, estimates that there are more than 100 data centers being proposed, under construction, or operational in the Lower Columbia River basin in Oregon and Washington. 

Industry advocates will be quick to point out that we have had data centers for decades. While that is true, it is important to remember that the data centers built today are significantly larger than the ones built at the start of the internet. As a result, they require more resources to operate which further impacts our energy and water systems as well as the communities that depend on them.

Energy Use

Data centers consume a significant amount of energy and that is only expected to grow in the coming years. In 2024, data centers accounted for nearly 5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption, and that consumption is expected to at least double by 2030.

In the Columbia River region, existing and planned data center capacity could reach four gigawatts, which could use enough energy to power 2.3 million households each year. 

To meet demand, utilities will often look to new fossil fuel generation and other infrastructure, producing harmful pollutants that endanger nearby communities and wildlife. Without strong guardrails, these financial and health costs can be passed on to households and businesses. Safeguards can include policies that require large energy users to pay more for electricity, pay for the extra electricity generation needed and related grid infrastructure, prioritize clean energy over fossil fuels, and prevent developers from stranding assets.

Last year, Oregon passed the Protecting Oregonians with Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act which put these protections into law in addition to requiring that new data center loads not impede clean energy and greenhouse gas emission targets. 

Water Use

Data centers also require substantial water, primarily for cooling. Large data centers can consume millions of gallons of water per day. In 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported withdrawing more than 240 million gallons of water from Oregon. It’s worth noting that AWS has initiatives that aim to return more water to communities than they use in direct operations.

Large water withdrawals can have significant impacts, and can affect drinking water supplies, groundwater levels, streamflows, and aquatic ecosystems, especially in areas that are experiencing droughts like Oregon and Washington. The impacts of the drought were evident during the flight. I had expected to see lush green fields and trees, but much of the landscape appeared brown and dry. 

However, it is difficult to know how much water is being used by data centers since there is no overarching requirement for companies to disclose water usage and for those who provide information voluntarily, it is not standardized. States across the country are working to tackle this issue with proposals being discussed in New Jersey, California, and Texas. In Oregon, Senator Wyden has sent letters to Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon demanding information on how their companies are minimizing water usage and impacts to communities.

To protect our water resources, there need to be regulations on water transparency and consumption. At the very least, data centers should be mandated to report water consumption, and reporting requirements should be standardized. 

What We Can Do

The National Wildlife Federation calls for federal, state, and local leaders to strengthen wildlife, climate, and environmental safeguards for the planning, siting, development, and operation of data centers. Without robust policy and corporate accountability implemented across all levels of government, data center growth could threaten our communities and the environment, including reversing our progress on conservation, increasing threats to public health, and harming wildlife and natural ecosystems. With the gratuitous rise of AI-driven data centers, we must act now.

NWF does valuable and noble work to protect the forests of Florida and the larger American South. NWF’s Southeast Forestry Program is working across the south to restore longleaf forests for the human and natural communities that depend on them. It is truly impressive work.

I am deeply blessed to live along the southern Nature Coast on the Gulf Coast of Florida, a landscape richly adorned with longleaf pines. Traveling into the forest provides a sublime and transcendent opportunity to hear the wind give them song and listen to their chorus. The song of windswept pines opens doors in my soul that allow me to, just for a moment, venture back in time to the sweetest of memories.

I hear the voice of my grandparents in the music of the pines. I hear the voice of my father, and remember time spent in nature with him. Most powerfully, though, I hear the voice of my mother. It is both painful in the reminder of loss and joyful in the celebration of memory—truly the definition of bittersweet.

My mom was a dedicated adherent of the longleaf pine. She loved hiking among them. We carried our plant and bird guides in our backpacks, seeking to know the botany below and the avian wonders above—the amazing birds of the longleaf. The sounds of the longleaf pine come not just from the wind through their needles, but from the calls that the creatures inhabiting them send forth. My mom and I were thrilled every time the rich chorus burst forth around us.

As we hiked, we heard the crunch of pine needles below our feet. We heard the gentle and hushed call of the northern bobwhite. As evening approached, the back and forth of barred owls announced the transition from day to night. The chuck-will’s-widow welcomed the stars and the moon through the pines. We wandered up and down the hills and valleys of places like the Brooksville Ridge, along some of the highest points in Florida. Sandhills are not mountains, but in Florida, any elevation is worth noting and celebrating. 

We marveled at the science, practice, and magic of prescribed fire. We saw firsthand, many times, the transformational power it had in the longleaf forest. Green growth bursts forth from darkened ashes. New life surges into the world from the burnt offerings of the fire’s transition—nutrients recycled through fire.

Fire is the lifeblood of longleaf pines, as essential as water. Fire is to water as water is to fire in a longleaf forest. Both are equally important. Both nourish all things wild within the range of these mighty trees.

For years these magnificent landscapes disappeared across the American South, but then a small group of ecologists and foresters began to preach the gospel of prescribed fire. They connected the loss of so many elemental species of plants and animals in the South to the loss of longleaf pines. Longleaf systems on public lands that were overrun with oaks and sweetgums were gradually reclaimed, through effective management and prescribed fire. What was once thought lost was being found again.

The longleaf pine is truly the tree of life. Few trees are as essential to all forms of life beneath them, those of shell, fur, feather, and claw. When they wither, when they are lost to lack of fire or overharvest, all below them withers as well. When they are lost, ecological loss ripples in all directions.

My mom and I became pilgrims sharing a journey of restoration as we wandered among the pines and marveled. The trails we hiked helped her put cancer and illness behind her and embrace the wonder of life surging forth after loss.

Let us rejoice in all things longleaf, preserving these trees with fire and patience. By conserving these habitats and ecosystems on public and private lands, perhaps we can show future generations that we had the grace, humility, and wisdom to set right what we had so broken. Let us celebrate the longleaf pine. May their rich chorus forever define wild Florida.

Learn more about longleaf pines.

An edited and modified version of this essay appeared in The Invading Sea. Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives in Brooksville, along the Nature Coast. Joe is a former Wildlife Policy Specialist for NWF’s Gulf Program and submits these blog posts as an alumnus and supporter. You can follow Joe on Facebook.

For their anniversary, we at the National Wildlife Federation (a member of BGA) are reflecting on our own alignment with ensuring a clean energy transition that serves its people and communities who build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure that powers our economy. When environmental and labor organizations work together, we can build a transition that protects both wildlife and working people.

Offshore wind is one example. From the beginning, NWF has worked alongside BGA and labor partners to advance responsible offshore wind development that creates family-sustaining union jobs while protecting marine ecosystems. The Block Island Wind Farm offered an early glimpse of what that collaboration can achieve: more than 300 workers across 10 building trades locals helped build America’s first offshore wind project, demonstrating the skilled workforce needed to build a new clean energy industry.

NWF has also seen the importance of workers firsthand as electrification expands across other industries. During a tour of Forum Mobility’s charging station at the Port of Long Beach, members of NWF’s Offshore Wind Team explored the nation’s largest port-based truck charging depot, designed to serve more than 200 electric drayage trucks each day. The transition from diesel to electric equipment is not just a technological shift—it is a workforce transition. Workers will need new skills and training as the infrastructure around them changes, underscoring why workers must be part of conversations about how we build a clean energy economy.

NWF also stands with workers facing the impacts of a changing climate. Extreme heat is increasing workplace safety hazards, while federal protections for workers remain uncertain. About 28,000 work injuries each year are linked to hot weather, making strong workplace heat protections increasingly important as temperatures rise.

But the work is far from finished. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has so far resulted in the cancellation of 223 clean manufacturing, energy, and industrial projects and may have cost the nation 111,765 jobs. These losses threaten both the clean energy industries we need to address climate change and the good jobs those industries can create. They also demonstrate why the partnership between environmental organizations and labor is more important than ever.

With the current federal administration failing to adequately protect workers and the environment, state and local action is increasingly important. NWF will continue to stand with labor and our state and local affiliates to listen, learn, and push for better outcomes for our planet and workers. In partnership with BGA and other coalitions, NWF helped develop a checklist for model heat standards that protect workers from extreme heat.

As NWF celebrates BGA’s 20th anniversary, we are celebrating more than two decades of partnership and a shared vision of a clean economy where workers have family-sustaining jobs, communities have opportunity, and our air, water, lands, and wildlife are protected.

1. It Helps Wildlife

There are so many wildlife species that depend on fallen leaves. From moths, butterflies, and fireflies that often overwinter in the leaf layer to reptiles and birds that use it as a foraging location.

When you use the fallen leaves in your garden, you are providing wildlife with vital habitat that they need to survive!

2. It Benefits Your Soil

You can take advantage of nature’s oldest recycling system when you add fallen leaves to your garden beds. There’s a whole ecosystem of insects, arthropods, fungi, and microorganisms that will break down these leaves into rich fertilizer that replenishes nutrients in your soil. Skip the store bought stuff and let nature do the hard work for you!

3. It Reduces Waste

In one year alone, Americans disposed of over 35 million tons of yard waste, roughly the equivalent of 1.4 billion standard-size yard wastebags! And you might be surprised how much of this ends up in the landfill. 

When you use the fallen leaves in your garden, you’re reducing the amount of waste you produce.

4. It Can Suppress Weeds

Using fallen leaves as mulch in your garden beds can help prevent weeds from growing. A thick enough layer of leaves (we recommend a leaf layer of 3-5 inches) will block the sunlight and prevent weed seeds from growing. Plus, these leaves will eventually decompose and add nutrients back into your soil.

5. It Saves You Time and Money

There are lots of ways that using your fallen leaves benefits your schedule and wallet, from saving you time bagging up leaves and carting them to the curb, to reducing the need for you to buy store bought fertilizer and mulch. 

Discover How to Leave the Leaves

To get the most out of your fallen leaves, make a plan for how you’re going to use them. We recommend moving leaves off of pathways and turfgrass and using them in the following ways:

• As mulch in your garden beds
• Beneath native trees 
• In the compost to make a natural fertilizer

Learn more in our How to Leave the Leaves Tipsheet

The anglers excitedly loaded their poles, coolers, and other gear onto the vessel before the sun was higher than the boom of the sailboats docked in the marina. With some light chit chat over bagels, coffee, and shared Dramamine for those who were less experienced with ocean fishing, we were on our way. 

The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament, our reason for assembling the group of 40 anglers, takes place every year over a weekend in late July off the coast of Rhode Island and in the ocean waters around Block Island. Nine species are included in the tournament: bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, fluke, black sea bass, bluefish, and striped bass.

This year, the National Wildlife Federation was a sponsor and chartered a boat for recreational anglers and conservationists to gather for a weekend of fishing, community, and camaraderie underneath the Revolution Wind, South Fork Wind, and Block Island Wind turbines. 

On the first day, we traveled out past Block Island to Revolution Wind, a 65-turbine offshore wind project that will generate 704 MW of clean, affordable, and reliable electricity for Rhode Island and Connecticut—the equivalent to powering 350,000 homes and businesses. 

The project will complete construction later this year, but began delivering power to the grid in March 2026. Power from Revolution Wind will help improve grid reliability. A study from Union of Concerned Scientists demonstrated that Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind would have reduced New England’s blackout risk by 55% if it had been operational during the winter of 2024-2025. 

On the second day of the tournament, we traveled closer to the Block Island coast to fish near the Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind project in the United States with five turbines that began sending power to the island in 2016.

Split into teams of five or six, the anglers put lines in the water to begin the competition. Soon, anglers were reeling in species like black sea Bass to log for their teams, and other species like Atlantic mackerel although they did not count for this tournament. 

Offshore Wind Up Close

Seeing offshore wind turbines for the first time, many of the anglers remarked on how the turbines differed from what they expected. 

“Seeing it up close puts things into perspective for sure,” said La’Tonya Blanding, an angler and Artemis Sportswoman Ambassador from South Carolina. “They are massive and the power they generate is immense but low sound.” 

Underneath the steadily moving blades of the turbine, it was easy to see how a single rotation of the blades could produce enough energy to power the average U.S. household for an entire day.

One participant even found an unexpected connection to their day job. Her workplace, specializing in electrical and power management, shared an article shortly after the trip about how a few of her colleagues participated in an offshore wind readiness program at the Revolution Wind substation. “I’m like wait, I was just there,” said the angler, “so freaking cool.”

“I have been a fan of using ‘green’ options for energy, after seeing these up close I was impressed by just how large they were!” said Jack Illingworth from the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association. “I don’t think my feelings about offshore have changed much, [but] I feel I can better explain my position now.”

Other local anglers said what they saw on the trip came as no surprise. One local noted on fishing in the project area: “I’ve been out there several times for tuna fishing trips, so I was not really surprised by the turbines’ size or the amount of life out there,” but added still, “I never grow tired of encountering whales out there.”

Whales, Dolphins, and Seabirds, Oh My!

And, across the board, the vast array of wildlife thriving around the offshore wind turbines awed the diverse coalition of anglers on the vessel. Within the project areas on our first day out, anglers saw pods of dolphins, various seabirds, and humpback whales breaching to feed near the turbines.

“Seeing the whales bubble feeding [was] just inspirational,” said one angler commenting on the strategy humpback whales sometimes use to catch krill or fish. The whales use ‘bubble-net feeding,’ or the exhalation of air from their blowholes while swimming in a circle, to encase their prey into a smaller underwater space that makes it easier to eat more at once. 

Research suggests that humpback whales learn this behavior from each other, but we are learning from it, too. A similar technology is used in the offshore wind industry to keep whales safe from the noise pollution created during the pile driving process of construction. 

The double ‘bubble curtains’ used during pile driving encase the monopile from the seafloor to the top of the water in a thick layer of bubbles, trapping sound waves inside and protecting whales and other marine mammals from auditory impacts. Developers ‘double’ the bubble curtains—or use two at once—to further prevent construction noise from disrupting marine habitats.

Under the Surface

The offshore wind project areas on the East Coast have become rich underwater ecosystems because of the structure the turbine foundations create for species. 

“I was amazed at the amount of marine mammals and bird life,” noted George Baldwin from the Connecticut Surfcasters Association. “It makes total sense, as fish (especially baitfish) are attracted to structure and the [turbine] bases provide that structure. Gamefish, seabirds, and marine mammals know to hunt around structures to find baitfish, so the windmills should prove beneficial in increasing the marine life in the area.”

Turbine reefs can create new opportunities for marine life across the food chain, including for anglers who can utilize the turbines’ reef effect for their own recreational fishing, and many of the anglers on the boat attested to the boon. 

“Last year, I caught most of my fish right at the base of the [turbines],” said Baldwin.

“The fact that nature and industry can coexist is always interesting to me, and demonstrating that to people is valuable,” said Johnny Marquez from Vanishing Paradise, a program of the National Wildlife Federation that unites sportsmen to advocate for the restoration of water ecosystems in the Gulf. “Seeing the whales was by far my highlight,”

James Riggs from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association echoed the same admiration for the whales and added, “[I’ll] never forget it.”

Cameradie Across a Big Boat

The weekend ended on Block Island with an awards party at Captain Nicks Rock N Roll Bar with awards for shore, youth, and boat divisions, and best photos. A team from our charter won for best team photo in front of a turbine.

Many anglers noted incredible connections they made with new folks who brought differing perspectives to their engagement in the fishing community and conversation. With anglers coming from different day jobs, fishing clubs, parts of the country, and personal experiences, the boat was ripe for conversation during downtime—an experience that for some was just as, if not more, impactful than the fishing. 

“I had the chance to talk with people I would not normally come across in my daily life either at my job or recreationally, and enjoyed hearing about what they are doing and learned about many things going on around the country,” said Jack Illingworth from the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association. “Many of which I can share with my fishing club and hopefully generate additional support for their causes or work.”  

Another angler, from the West Coast, expressed a similar enthusiasm about connecting to anglers from different parts of the country to discuss fisheries and offshore wind: “Getting to connect with so many new people from across the nation who are invested in and care about the future of our oceans was inspiring and fulfilling. I appreciated the opportunity to connect and hear about East Coast fisheries—crazy fish that are so similar but also so different from the ones on the West Coast—and the recreational angling culture.” 

He added, “just seeing the wind turbines helped me understand what our West Coast may look like in the future.”

“The focused and shared time with a fellow angler and emerging friend from my town and local fishing club was precious,” said Christa Drew from the Cape Code Salties Sportsfishing Club, who recounted a particularly meaningful conversation with one of her tournament team members on policy in her state. “I was inspired to have time with some other anglers and non-anglers who also care about the environment and conservation in an informed and passionate way.”

Anglers walked away from the weekend feeling inspired to talk to others about how healthy ocean ecosystems can exist next to offshore wind, and spoke directly to how they were going to put this experience into action in their circles. 

“I do a lot of conservation work with our fisheries,” said Baldwin, “and am now more inspired to try and influence people to accept wind power as a valid and valuable component in plans to replace dirty fuels that change our atmosphere and our climate, endangering our world and our existence.”

Learn more about responsible offshore wind and recreational fishing and connect with other anglers at the Anglers for Offshore Wind Power website, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.

Want to know which tree you’re most like? Take our native tree quiz here!

What is Trees for Wildlife?

The National Wildlife Federation’s Trees for Wildlife program helps grow the population of good neighbors by providing free or subsidized native tree seedlings to partners across the country who plant them through local habitat restoration projects or distribute them at community tree giveaway events.

Thanks to generous donor support, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and conservation organizations are enabled to launch projects that create lasting benefits for both wildlife and the communities that care for them.

Some native trees are especially valuable because they support an extraordinary number of wildlife species. Known as keystone plants, these species form the foundation of healthy ecosystems. Planting them ensures that butterflies, native bees, birds, and other wildlife have the best chance of success.

2026 by the Numbers

In 2026, the Trees for Wildlife program helped distribute nearly 70,000 native trees representing more than 50 different types of trees. Among them were 16 keystone plants that support close to 500 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars.

Through these projects, partners helped restore habitats after natural disasters, increased future food availability for wildlife, and inspired people of all ages to connect with nature.

Through our partners outreach and activities, we engaged with nearly 23,000 people, giving them the opportunity to take part in hands-on conservation projects where they live, worship, and play. These five stories offer a glimpse into this year’s impact:

Partner Spotlights

University of Michigan-Flint | 500 trees

Sugar maples are great neighbors. Beyond producing the sap used to make maple syrup, sugar maples supply food for many mammals and insects while providing woodpeckers and other birds a safe area to nest.

To help students discover the value of native trees like the sugar maple, the University of Michigan-Flint hosted Genesee County Middle School for their Super Science Friday event where students traded in the classroom for hands-on learning in the great outdoors.

They explored forest ecology, practiced tree identification, and learned forestry skills alongside UMF wildlife biology students and faculty. The event provided the children with a greater understanding of the importance of trees in their communities and ecosystems while the planting of seedlings throughout campus will benefit local wildlife for years to come.

Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) | 40,000 trees

Harsh winters often take a toll on both people and wildlife. For pollinators, the first taste of spring comes from the Eastern redbud, a tree whose pink and purple blossoms bloom even before its leaves emerge after each long winter, providing an early nectar source for bees and butterflies. The tree even serves as the host plant for the specialized bee Habropoda laboriosa.

Protecting these early signs of spring became a shared mission among thousands of Tennesseans. Following the devastating ice storms that damaged and destroyed thousands of trees across the state, more than 4,500 volunteers participated in the 12^th annual Tennessee Tree Day to help plant 40,000 Trees for Wildlife seedlings!

Thanks to the incredible planning efforts of the TEC pickup sites were set up in all 95 of Tennessee’s counties for the first time in the event’s history. This exceptional feat showcases how communities coming together can have a tremendous impact on restoring wildlife habitats after natural disasters.

Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps & Islamic Society of Baltimore (ISB) | 100 trees

Sweetbay Magnolias thrive where other trees struggle. Well adapted to swampy soils, they help stabilize flood-prone areas while supporting insects. They are pollinated by beetles that covet the tree’s aromatic white flowers and also serve as the host plant for the sweetbay silkmoth and tiger swallowtail butterfly.

These unique qualities made this tree an ideal species for an Earth Day planting event hosted by the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps and the ISB. Together with students from Al-Rahmah School, volunteers planted native trees across the ISB campus. Located within a floodplain, the location provided the perfect setting for water-tolerant species, which will help reduce stormwater runoff while creating healthier habitat for wildlife and the surrounding community.

West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) with the support of Allied World | 100 trees

Persimmon trees generously provide for the wildlife around them. Their fruit feeds birds and mammals well into fall and winter, while their spring flowers offer nectar and pollen for native bees, making them valuable neighbors throughout the year.

With generous support from Allied World, WAWA transformed what could have been a simple Arbor Day event into their 19th annual Urban Forest Fest, which was a multi-day celebration of community, creativity, and connection to nature.

Residents were invited to participate in guided hikes, take workshops for poetry and photography, and bring home one of the 130 trees given away at the events. With 70 trees remaining, WAWA and its volunteers banded together to plant the rest in designated locations throughout Atlanta, creating lasting habitat across the city.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation | 8,700 trees

Towering American sycamores have a huge impact on wildlife. These gentle giants that grow to heights of 100+ feet have an affinity for aquatic environments and are often found on the banks of rivers and streams. Their cavernous trunks create ideal nesting sites for birds like the wood duck and the iconic bald eagle. The tree’s expansive root system also helps stabilize fragile riverbanks and shorelines to protect them from erosion.

In North Carolina, native trees like the American sycamore have become an important part of the region’s recovery following hurricane Helene in 2024. Working alongside local partners, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation distributed thousands of Trees for Wildlife seedlings to landowners and communities across the state, helping protect against future erosion, reduce invasive species, and restore critical wildlife habitat.

This incredible work has not gone unnoticed: while working on the Watauga River, volunteers were greeted by a group of paddlers and anglers who thanked them for working to protect the waters they know and love.

More to Explore

• Want to see more of this year’s projects? Click here to explore our 2026 Event Summaries to learn how Trees for Wildlife partners are making a difference around the nation.
• To see more photos and learn where native trees are being planted, take a look at our interactive Trees for Wildlife Impact Map!

Help Future Trees for Wildlife Projects Take Root

Native trees are the neighbors that make every community stronger. They provide shelter, protect waterways, clean our air, and create healthier places for us all to live. As forests continue to disappear and wildlife habitat is fragmented by development, these pillars of our communities are being lost.

With your support, Trees for Wildlife can further invest in the future by putting native seedlings directly in the hands of community members so they can restore habitat, strengthen ecosystems, and create more resilient communities for generations to come.

A native tree is any tree that has naturally occurred in your region for hundreds or thousands of years. Native trees, in particular, support native wildlife species by providing food, cover, and places to raise young. Birds use snags to build nests, large mammals enjoy delicious fruits, and even fungi and bacteria break down the wood of fallen trees, which provides the ideal environment for new trees to grow. 

Native trees also support us by enhancing environmental quality through climate change mitigation and removal of harmful pollution from the air and water. They even aid in economic development by increasing property values and can impact our moods by reducing stress and imparting a sense of well-being. 

Plan a garden party through our Native Tree Personality Quiz and find out what native tree YOU are!

The case study below is featured in NWF’s Showcase Report: Versatility of Nature-Based Solutions: Protections and Benefits from the Parcel to Community Scales, made possible with support from Allied World.

Case Study: Coney Island Plantings

New York City’s coastline faces growing risks from life-threatening hurricanes and flooding. This was made devastatingly clear by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021. In response, we launched the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program in 2017 to help prepare the next generation of New Yorkers for a changing environment.

RiSC is being adapted in Texas, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. In New York City (NYC), RiSC and partners are engaging public school students and intergenerational volunteers in planting native American beach grasses, as well as trees and shrubs, in Coney Island Creek Park—Brooklyn’s last urban estuary. American beachgrass is a hearty native plant with a dense network of roots and rhizomes. Its ability to stabilize dunes, reduce erosion, and provide coastal flood protection from extreme wave conditions has been well documented. It also provides numerous ecological benefits including cover for wildlife like snakes, small mammals, and native and migratory birds that live in the Park.

Emily Fano, who leads the NYC project for the National Wildlife Federation, talked to us more about this project that brings together education and nature to benefit New York City.

Can you tell us more about the project and what your goals were?

The RiSC program launched in seven South Brooklyn public schools in 2017, including Coney Island, many of which were badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. About 50,000 homes in Coney Island were left uninhabitable after the storm, thousands of public housing residents lacked heat and hot water for weeks, and an 11-foot storm surge inundated homes and businesses with polluted water and sand.

At the same time, public school students were receiving very little climate education, mostly in science classes, and resilience was not part of any curricula. We wanted to fill those knowledge gaps and help students understand what made Sandy such a powerful storm. We designed a curriculum and a RiSC Vulnerability Assessment for schools, to help students understand their schools and communities’ vulnerability and how those could be addressed.

The RiSC 3.0 curriculum was tailored to Coney Island and was designed in partnership with community leaders, teachers and scientific advisors. It explored this frontline community’s ecological and social history and its coastal vulnerability. According to FEMA, “[p]rimary frontal dunes are often the first line of defense against flooding in coastal regions.”

Since 2022, NWF has led intergenerational habitat restoration events in Coney Island Creek Park to build social and ecological resilience in the community. Close to 4,000 New York City public school students, 200+ teachers, and hundreds of community members have collaborated with NWF, NYC Parks, the American Littoral Society, corporate volunteers and Coney Islanders to plant over 100,000 American beachgrass culms, restoring over 2.25 acres of frontal dunes in the park. We also bring teachers on site for professional development.

How does the project enhance resilience for the local community and ecosystem?

Our goal is to build functional flood protection for the 50,000+ people living adjacent to Coney Island Creek Park by expanding plantings there. We hope to stop sand from migrating into roads, homes and sewer drains, since clogged drains will exacerbate flooding on the streets.  

We also hope to continue planting native woody shrubs and trees in the maritime forest adjacent to the road. This will provide enhanced flood protection and sand stabilization as well as additional habitat for bird species. E-birders have documented 244 bird species in the Park including grebes, loons, gulls, terns, warblers, ducks, sandpipers and more.

What feedback have you received from the surrounding community about this project?

In November 2025, we conducted extensive community outreach in Coney Island, prior to a meeting that invited residents to learn about the RiSC program, ask questions and provide feedback. The meeting was co-hosted by NWF at a partner school and was attended by 50 people including students, community board members, representatives from four elected officials’ offices, and a homeowner association. Feedback towards our program was overwhelmingly positive and continued restoration of the shoreline is a top priority of the local community board.

Since 2020, NWF has established deep connections within the Coney Island community. NYC public schools in Coney Island and across the city continue to be instrumental in our habitat restoration efforts. NYC Parks is a critical partner, securing permits for our restoration work and public events, and providing staff, tools, plant material and other supplies. The Coney Island Aquarium has hosted RiSC professional development workshops for educators and hosted a celebratory event in June 2026 with several schools and program partners and our corporate partners at Allied World.

What key lessons have you learned that could benefit others looking to implement similar projects?

I think about these four key things as a nonprofit coming into a frontline community like Coney Island that has experienced historic disinvestment: 1) listen, 2) be humble, 3) earn trust, and 4) ask what people need. It has been essential to build relationships with community leaders to understand Coney Islanders’ lived experiences. We made sure to engage residents in program planning and design as paid advisors and have provided stipends to local educators and volunteers. Our current program manager, Abby Jordan, lives in the community, which I would consider a best practice, and is now also serving on the community board.

As we were planning our program in Coney Island, we wanted to understand what projects were already underway in the community and who was leading them; what did people care about; what challenges were they facing. Economic and health challenges persisted for years after Sandy and gang violence has also been a problem among youth. We learned that residents were understandably wary of outsiders after years of gentrification that accelerated luxury condo development and proposed controversial projects, including a casino that the community fought and successfully stopped. People were over-surveyed for “research” after Superstorm Sandy and nonprofit programs came and went after their grants ran out, leaving no lasting benefits for the community.

We didn’t want to treat Coney Islanders that way or abandon the community. We have committed to continuing our work there until we’re sure that our plantings provide functional flood protection. In addition to the beachgrasses, we have also strived to leave another lasting legacy. When we learned that a community partner needed a website, we raised funds to help them build one. We also aim to benefit local students by continuing to provide hands-on restoration experiences and introductions to new career pathways that can shape their future.

What message would you like to share about the importance of nature-based solutions for communities and ecosystems alike?

Nature-based solutions, including bioswales, rain gardens and expanded tree beds, which capture stormwater and reduce combined sewer overflows that pollute waterways, can be deployed incrementally in neighborhoods and can yield immediate benefits. Larger scale projects like restoring wetlands and installing green roofs also have numerous benefits.  

Perhaps most importantly, nature-based solutions empower local action. Residents can help design, build, and maintain projects at the community scale, strengthening stewardship and building social connections in the process. Beachgrass planting projects, like the one in Coney Island, are relatively inexpensive. They typically involve native plants, volunteer or local labor, and simple tools, costing a fraction of gray infrastructure projects that can run into the millions of dollars per mile.

Gray projects typically involve long design, permitting, and construction periods before they begin providing full benefits due to their scale and complexity. This can delay measurable improvements in flood mitigation. Gray infrastructure also often needs costly repairs or replacement after major storms.

When communities work with nature rather than against it, they get solutions that are more resilient, are often more affordable, and beneficial in the long run. At the same time, communities gain co-benefits like cleaner air and water, healthier ecosystems, recreational spaces, and improved public health.

In March of 2026, ESA protections were lifted from the Gulf as a result of the “God Squad” decision to grant the oil and gas industry an exemption from ESA consultation requirements.

The God Squad is officially called the Endangered Species Committee and is made up of six permanent members including the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and the Army; the Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. A seventh member is designated by the President.

The God Squad was designed to be a measure of last resort when conflicts between needed projects and species protection cannot be resolved. Given what is at stake and that most conflicts arising between species protection and development can be worked out, the God Squad has been very rarely convened. The last convening was in 1992, when the decision was made to overturn protections for the spotted owl. And that decision was later withdrawn after litigation.

In this convening, the God Squad ignored the usual requirements and findings that the extraordinary measure of an ESA exemption was necessary. Without even finding an irreconcilable conflict between oil and gas development and protecting species, the God Squad relied on a never before used “national security” exemption to erase protections.

The seven-member Endangered Species Committee’s unanimous vote to exempt oil and gas development in the Gulf from the Endangered Species Act—allowing oil producers to ignore long-standing commonsense safety practices—sidesteps proven practices to develop energy resources and safeguard threatened and endangered species. National Wildlife Federation press release, March 31, 2026

Without ESA protections in the Gulf, the Rice’s whales’ habitat could be facing devastating impacts and put further stress on the few whales that are left.

“Extinction is an unacceptable price to pay for expediency, especially when long-established, commonsense practices can help energy development and wildlife recovery co-exist,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Endangered species in the Gulf are not impeding our military readiness nor our strategic positions—and allowing harm to them will not make our troops or nation safer. We should be rallying the nation to recover America’s critically endangered species like the Rice’s whale and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, and we urge oil companies to continue to follow responsible practices that protect wildlife, while we work with Congress and the courts on a responsible path forward.”

Rice’s Whale 101 and Its Role in a Healthy Marine Ecosystem

The Rice’s whale is a baleen whale, which means it is a filter feeder, and feeds on krill and plankton. It’s gray on top, has a pale gray to light pink belly, a uniquely shaped hooked dorsal fin and can grow up to 42 feet long.

Their life span is unknown; however, it’s estimated that the Rice’s whale can live up to 60 years (based on the life span of a closely related whale species). It was recognized as its own unique whale species in 2021, the Balaenoptera ricei. It was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale.

The Rice’s whale and other whales contribute to blue carbon storage. Whales are efficient creatures; they are able to capture and store atmospheric carbon in their bodies. When they die, they most likely sink to the ocean floor; the carbon is trapped and prevented from being released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Additionally, whales bring nitrogen and other nutrients to the ocean surface, this process is called “the whale pump.”

Threats to the Rice’s Whale

The Rice’s whale is facing many threats including oil spills, plastics pollution, vessel strikes, ghost gear entanglement, ocean noise, etc.

Oil spills are pretty common in the Gulf and could happen more often with the ESA protections being lifted. Oil can coat the baleen (the filter feeding structure inside the whale’s mouth) making it difficult for the whale to eat, and the whale could even swallow the oil.

According to NOAA, “scientists estimate that 48 percent of Rice’s whale habitat in the eastern Gulf was exposed to oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. And as a result, the whale’s population may have declined by up to 22 percent, and there are likely lingering effects on reproduction and population growth.” Exposure to oil can also cause respiratory issues, increased vulnerability to diseases, skin irritation, and other health impacts.

Other current threats that will most likely increase due to more oil and gas activities in the Gulf include vessel strikes and impacts from underwater noise. There is already a high amount of traffic in the northern Gulf where several commercial shipping lanes coincide with the whale’s territory. In 2009, a female Rice’s whale was found dead in Tampa Bay; it was determined that a vessel strike was the cause of death.

Additionally, shipping and energy (oil and gas) exploration and development activities produce noise underwater. For example, seismic surveys use loud air guns to map the ocean floor for oil and gas.

This underwater noise interferes with the hearing and call frequency range of Rice’s whales. “It is likely that Rice’s whales rely on their hearing to perform critical life functions such as communicating, navigating, finding mates and food, and avoiding predators.”

Check out New York Times interactive graphic about the effects of sonic blasts on the Rice’s whale. Click to view graphic.

Plastic pollution is also a critical threat to the whale’s habitat; Scientists believe between 5-13 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010. An estimated 56 percent of whale, dolphin and porpoise species have consumed plastic, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency. Plastic often looks like food, or is ingested accidentally with water and zooplankton, like krill, as baleen whales (e.g., Rice’s whale) feed. As a result, plastic can block these animals’ breathing passages and stomachs, leading to death. Entanglement in ghost gear (abandoned fishing gear) can also impact the Rice’s whale’s ability to swim freely, surface to breath, and eat.

The Gulf’s “dead zone”, the second largest in the world, is a low-oxygen zone, that negatively impacts all marine animals including the Rice’s whales and other cetaceans. 

How You Can Help the Rice’s Whales

• Contact your public official and advocate for the Endangered Species Act. NWF’s Action Fund Advocacy Toolkit provides guidance on the many ways to share your message of support with friends, family, public officials, media outlets, and more.
• Tell your family and friends about the Rice’s whales and the threats they are facing in the Gulf.

Read NWF Blog, Oceans Are the Heart of the Planet, to learn how oceans provide vital support for living creatures, humans and wildlife.

Kids’ Corner with Ranger Rick

• Read: The Ocean
• Read: Who Needs Teeth?
• Watch: Amazing Orcas! Fascinating Killer Whale Facts for Kids
• Watch: Humpback tail slap
• Watch: Motion of the Ocean

Critical minerals are a class of raw materials that according to the Department of Energy “ha[ve] a high risk of supply chain disruption” and or “serve an essential function in one or more energy technologies.” These include minerals such as copper, lithium, and many others. 

Clean energy infrastructure, from solar panels to electric vehicle batteries to wind turbines, requires more critical minerals to manufacture compared to fossil fuel based infrastructure. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), an electric vehicle requires six times the amount of minerals in comparison to a gas powered vehicle and an onshore wind farm requires nine times more minerals in comparison to a gas-fired plant. The IEA projects that given the accelerating pace of clean energy uptake, critical mineral demand could potentially triple by 2030.

Although meeting the rising demand for these materials is challenging, deploying clean energy is necessary to lower greenhouse gases, slow climate change, and secure a safe and healthy planet for future generations. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution from residential energy, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry causes 7 million premature deaths annually. This loss of life is not only unacceptable, it is avoidable.  Expanding clean energy can improve our health and livelihood by reducing harmful air pollution from fossil fuels.  

This fundamental requirement for our clean energy future is even more complex given that the U.S. currently imports the vast majority of these minerals from other countries. Relying on other nations for materials that are so critical to our energy system leaves vulnerabilities if geopolitical conflict or economic uncertainty occur—but the same is true for oil and other imports. Additionally, many of the countries the U.S. imports critical minerals from have lower (or nonexistent) environmental and worker protection standards. 

This need for domestically supplied critical minerals is driving a renewed conversation around domestic mining and processing of these minerals. Supplying our own critical minerals could minimize the risk of price volatility and supply interruptions that we may face from internationally sourced minerals. However, many of these minerals have to be mined and processed, or recycled, before they can be turned into something useful.

Mining operations in the United States must be conducted with environmental and social safeguards to protect our lands, waters, and the communities and wildlife populations adjacent to mining sites. If these extraction processes are conducted with proper permitting to ensure wildlife protections and community input, the U.S. would be able to expand clean energy deployment while also providing a variety of new jobs in the mining and mineral processing sectors. 

Addressing the supply chain challenges are complicated and challenging, but solving these hard problems is both possible and necessary to slow the impacts of climate change.

Find out more about NWF’s work on critical minerals and clean energy here.