Wildlife habitats across the U.S. are facing growing pressure. Forests and wetlands are disappearing, weather extremes are transforming entire ecosystems, and over development is carving up once-connected landscapes. To protect the places where wildlife thrive — and preserve the natural balance that supports us all — we need to understand what’s driving these threats and what it will take to confront them.

1. Development and Urban Sprawl
   As cities grow and roads stretch further, natural spaces shrink. Wildlife lose their homes to buildings, pavement, and expanding infrastructure — leaving fewer safe spots to live, eat, and raise their young.
2. Habitat Fragmentation
   It’s not just about how much land is lost — it’s how it’s broken up. Highways, housing, and fences slice once-connected habitats into isolated patches, making it harder for animals to migrate, find mates, or adapt.
3. Climate Change
   Rising temperatures, shifting seasons, and more intense storms are upending the natural rhythms wildlife rely on. Migration patterns, food sources, and breeding seasons are being thrown off balance — and many species can’t adapt quickly enough.
4. Water Pollution
   Pollution is degrading the water sources that wildlife and ecosystems depend on. From headwaters to estuaries, runoff and chemicals threaten water quality and the species that rely on it. Protecting surrounding lands is one of the best ways to keep waterways clean and habitats healthy.
5. Degradation of Working Lands
   Farms, ranches, and forests cover more than half of the U.S., making them essential to the survival of countless species. But when these lands are overworked, stripped of native vegetation, or managed without conservation in mind, they become ecological dead zones — offering little food, shelter, or connectivity for wildlife. 

What We’re Doing About It 

At The Conservation Fund, we’re protecting and restoring America’s most important wildlife habitats — from large migration corridors to small, sensitive wetlands and working lands like farms and forests. By partnering with public and private stakeholders, we’ve helped conserve more than 9 million acres that species rely on to survive and thrive. Our approach ensures that conservation supports both wildlife and the people who depend on healthy, productive landscapes. 

Learn more about our wildlife habitat work →