In reference to community focused work, adaption involves responding to environmental changes, such as climate shifts or natural disasters, by implementing strategies to make communities and ecosystems more resilient. This can include measures like improving infrastructure, adjusting land-use practices, and enhancing social and economic systems to better withstand and recover from environmental impacts.
As recognized by NWF’s Articles of Incorporation, Affiliates are NWF’s Primary Partners and are voting members of the Federation. They are autonomous statewide organizations whose mission supports the purposes of the Federation, have been approved for affiliate membership by the Federation Board of Directors, and comply with continuing qualifications for affiliation.
Biodiversity is the variety of life.
Active participation of individuals in their communities and in the democratic process through activities such as voting in elections, participating in public comment periods, and communicating directly with government officials and decision-makers with the goal of addressing issues of public concern and the betterment of society.
Refers to energy generation without the combustion of fuels that contribute to planetary warming. The term is used by NWF to refer to power sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy. (See also: Renewable Energy.)
A form of protection that allows sustainable use of natural resources with minimal ecological impact ensuring the integrity of species and ecosystem function for future generations.
Change of a natural ecosystem to another land use or profound change in the natural ecosystem’s species composition, structure, or function.
Loss of natural forest as a result of: (i) conversion to agriculture or other non-forest land use; (ii) conversion to a tree plantation; or (iii) severe and sustained degradation.
* See definition for “conversion” above. https://shorturl.at/qDuht
Specific points or achievements within the development and implementation phases of a project, highlighting key stages in both the planning and execution processes that mark significant progress, successful outcomes, or the completion of essential tasks related to the project’s design and delivery objectives.
Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
Environmental Justice refers to those cultural norms and values, rules and regulations, behaviors, policies, and decisions to support sustainable communities where people can interact with confidence that their environment is safe, nurturing and productive. Environmental justice is served when people realize their full potential without experiencing the‘ isms. Environmental justice is supported by decent paying and safe jobs; quality schools and recreation; affordable housing; adequate healthcare; personal empowerment; and communities free of violence, drugs, and poverty. These are communities where both cultural and biological diversity are respected and highly revered and where distributive justice prevails.
Dr. Bunyan Bryant, University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment
The fair and impartial availability of resources, opportunities, or services to all individuals or groups, regardless of their background, identity, socio-economic status, or geographic location.
This refers to choosing what is right, not what will serve the interest of those in power. Equity and justice does not center or uphold global white supremacy but centers global majority voices through non-performative methods.
FPIC describes processes that are free from manipulation or coercion (or paternalistic persuasion), informed by adequate and timely information, and occur sufficiently prior to a decision so that Indigenous rights and interests can be incorporated or addressed effectively as part of the decision-making process. (TIPES)
Fenceline community is a term that is often interchanged with frontline community. They are not interchangeable. A fenceline community lives in direct proximity to (adjacent to) polluting facilities, usually separated by a fence or other barrier. These communities often experience disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards such as air and water pollution, noise, odors, and potential chemical releases. Fenceline communities live immediately adjacent to polluting facilities (i.e., military bases, fossil fuel infrastructure, industrial parks, hazardous waste sites), and are directly impacted by the noise, odors, chemical and fuel emissions, traffic, and waste generated by these facilities.
Frontline Communities are those that first experience the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards. Often disproportionately comprised of BIPOC, low-income, disabled, and otherwise marginalized communities, these communities shoulder the brunt of the physical, health, economic, and mental burdens of climate change and environmental hazards.
A grassroots movement is one that uses the people in a given district, region or community as the basis for a political or economic movement. Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to implement change at the local, regional, national, or international levels.
Gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that trap the Earth’s heat. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and ozone are the primary GHGs; others include hydrofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. GHGs produced by human activities have caused an overall warming influence on the Earth’s climate since 1750 -- the era of industrialization. The largest contributor to this warming has been carbon dioxide, followed by methane and black carbon (or soot).
Indigenous Peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic, and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant settler-colonial populations.
Efforts to reduce GHG and other pollution emissions in the industrial sector (which includes manufacturing and construction). This sector is responsible for nearly one-third of U.S. GHG emissions.
For NWF this term is generally understood to refer to industrial decarbonization projects and industrial sector decarbonization generally. These would be projects that focus specifically on heavy GHG-emitting industries that are difficult to abate like cement, steel, aluminum, etc. This definition does not include power sector projects, where NWF primarily points to alternative opportunities for decarbonization such as the deployment of renewable energy.
The process of creating value by developing and implementing novel solutions to climate adaptation challenges. (https://www.nwf.org/InnovationInAdaptation)
A company involved in the wholesale meat trade in any of its stages: slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of meat from animals such as cattle.
Marginalized refers to communities that face disproportionate exposure to environmental risks and pollution due to factors like race, income, or social status, highlighting systemic inequalities in environmental decision-making and resource distribution.
In reference to community focused work, mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or prevent the severity, extent, or impact of environmental hazards, risks, or damaged such as cutting pollution or limiting the impacts of climate change. Moreover, mitigation aims to reduce the disproportionate burden of environmental harm on marginalized communities by addressing underlying systemic inequities through policy interventions and community-led initiatives.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature defines nature-based solutions as “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges (e.g., climate change, food and water security or natural disasters) effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.” NbS also apply across multiple scales.
Strategies that support the ability of natural systems to mitigate climate change and that increase the resilience of populations to climate impacts. They harness nature’s inherent ability to sequester carbon and are a powerful tool that can protect human communities and wildlife from the impacts of our changing environment.
A collaborative endeavor driven by shared objectives, values, resources (including funding opportunities), mutual trust, and a vision for the future that prioritizes equity through collective growth and impact.
A form of protection that restricts use and/or human access to a natural resource, species, or habitat to maintain its existing condition, minimize the rate of change, slow down further deterioration, and/or prevent damage from threats that cannot be sufficiently managed through conservation efforts.
Refers to businesses, corporations, or organizations that operate for profit and are owned, managed, and controlled by individuals or entities outside of the public or governmental domain.
To safeguard or species populations, habitat, and/or ecosystems from harm or damage, to maintain their value or function.
Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources such as the sun, wind, tides, and underground heat. Sometimes biomass sources are considered to be renewable, such as by the Department of Energy, though NWF typically doesn’t include biomass in this grouping because of the significant time (e.g., decades) that passes between use of the resource and natural replenishment, among other concerns.
NWF often considers transmission goals inextricably linked to renewable energy, because potential renewable resources are often located far from the current grid and must be connected by new or expanded transmission lines.
In reference to community focused work, resilience refers to the capacity of communities, particularly marginalized ones, to withstand and recover from environmental hazards, disasters, and other stresses while maintaining their social, economic, and ecological well-being. It involves empowering communities with the resources, knowledge, and adaptive strategies necessary to cope with environmental challenges and to build sustainable, equitable futures despite systemic injustices.
Refers to NWF’s conservation policy resolutions. As recognized in Article XI of NWF’s Articles of Incorporation, the conservation policy of the National Wildlife Federation is established by resolutions voted on and adopted by the affiliate representatives at Annual Meetings of the Federation.
Actions taken to modify habitat, ecosystem function, or species population numbers in order to return it to a known earlier condition.
The ability to maintain or support a process over time – economic, environmental, social, or otherwise – in “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
A federal or state status given to Indigenous groups, or to a person being granted membership to a federally recognized Tribe. Not all Indigenous Peoples to the United States are Tribal members or want Tribe status. Nor do they need in order to have self-determination, TEK, and so forth. (TIPES)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the international body tasked with supporting and guiding the global response to climate change. Nearly all nations of the world are parties to the Convention. The UNFCCC served as the venue for the 2015 Paris Agreement, under which countries agreed to limit average global temperature rise to 2 degrees (ideally 1.5 degrees) Celsius over pre-industrial levels. This level is thought to be appropriate to “prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development,” according to the UNFCCC.
Agricultural and forested areas that are actively used for economic purposes such as farming, ranching or timber production, while also serving as habitats for wildlife and ecosystems.
We are defining “youth” in this context as K-12 as well as college-aged and young adults, but with a focus on the older end of this spectrum, roughly aged 14-25.
Adopted by processing and consumer-facing companies that commit to avoiding purchasing products from land deforested after an agreed cut-off date.
*See definition for deforestation above
Commodity production, sourcing, or financial investments that do not cause or contribute to deforestation. Companies that pledge zero deforestation agreements are committed to eliminating deforestation associated with commodities they produce, trade, and/or sell.
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