NWTF North Dakota and Partners Invest More Than $800,000 in Conservation for 2026
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The North Dakota State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently met in Bismarck to review Hunting Heritage Super Fund project proposals for fiscal year 2026 funding awards. Following the review and ranking process, proposals were approved by the North Dakota Board of Directors.
The board budgeted $36,500 for conservation projects and $17,000 for hunting heritage-related efforts, including education and outreach events, chapter scholarships and 4-H Shooting Sports support. NWTF conservation project award funding will be matched by more than $773,000 in partner or grant funds for the approved projects.
“The funding allocated this year will go toward upland and riparian habitat projects while also increasing publicly accessible acres through our partners,” said Clayton Lenk, NWTF district biologist for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “The North Dakota State Chapter has shown next-level commitment to conserving and enhancing habitat at a landscape scale through its contributions to the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative.”
The NWTF’s Super Fund is a funding model through which volunteers raise money at banquets and other fundraisers and allocate a significant portion of those proceeds into impactful conservation, research and outreach projects at the state level and beyond.
Across North Dakota, approved conservation work will focus on riparian restoration, grassland habitat enhancement and expanding public access opportunities through strong partnerships. Projects include the Souris River Basin Longbeards tree-planting program, NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grazing infrastructure improvements and Pheasants Forever’s Public Access to Habitat (PATH) Program — all aimed at improving habitat quality and access at a landscape scale.
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 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 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.