Grants Will Protect Nearly 14,000 Acres, Including Rare Peat Fen Wetland in Humboldt County September 2, 2025 - The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $21.7 million in grants to support 16 habitat protection and restoration projects in 11 counties...

YouTube video by NativeHabitatProject

Join us in celebrating Habitat Month 2026! Learn how NOAA Fisheries' Office of Habitat Conservation works to restore habitat to support our nation’s fisheries.

NOAA was thrilled to honor Dr. Kylie Smith with the 2026 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award at Restore America’s Estuaries’ Coastal & Estuarine Summit. Kylie is a coral reef ecologist with many years of experience restoring corals in the Florida Keys. Kylie is a co-founder of I.CARE (Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education), which is dedicated to engaging recreational divers in coral reef restoration. I.CARE was established in 2019 to bridge the gap between restoration science and community involvement in support of large-scale habitat restoration. Kylie’s work at I.CARE balances sustainable recreational use while building conservation stewards among residents and visitors to the Florida Keys. Despite the challenges facing coral reef ecosystems, Kylie remains dedicated to her commitment to rebuilding the coral reefs of the Florida Keys and inspires many others to do the same. Engaging Students & Communities Kylie is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and community engagement in marine conservation. During her graduate studies at Clemson University, she mentored more than 40 undergraduate students. She supervised student research projects and guided students from project formation through presenting results at conferences. Years later, this experience inspired her to create an internship program at I.CARE. This program provides paid, hands-on...

Three hundred thirty-one gorgeous duck stamps. Fifteen finalists. Two days of fierce competition. One winner. For the fourth time, Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, is the winner of the 2026 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. His acrylic painting of a pair of long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) will be made into the 2027-2028 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, aka the Duck Stamp. This annual bird stamp raises roughly $40 million per year to support wetland habitat conservation in the National Wildlife Refuge System. “The Federal Duck Stamp Program is one of the most successful conservation programs in our nation’s history. Since the program began in 1934, Duck Stamp sales have helped protect millions of acres of wetland habitat for waterfowl and countless other species. It brings together art, wildlife, conservation, and the American outdoors,” Service Director Brian Nesvik said in a statement. Madison Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, placed second with an acrylic painting of a king eider (Somateria spectabilis). Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, took the third place prize also with an acrylic painting of a king eider. The eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the long-tailed duck, king eider, cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii),...

Linda Leaming reflects on conservation and interconnection, and why even the tigers have sought refuge in Bhutan.

Haunted by memories of the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma farmers have adopted conservation practices that have helped to revive about 100 streams.

A windswept gannet, laughing lions and a sleepy frog are among the images to have been selected as finalists in this year’s Comedy Wildlife Awards.