Join Us in Transforming Wildlife Governance
We have to change the system from the ground upWhy we need systemic change:
Understand our strategy:
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Imagine walking in a forest and realizing the songbirds you loved are gone and the forest is silent. No longer seeing monarch butterflies stop on your backyard milkweed as they migrate to their wintering grounds in Mexico. Or visiting the West and no longer hearing wolf song. Across the U.S., habitats are shrinking, species are disappearing, and most state wildlife agencies—our first line of defense—are stuck in the past.
For too long, state and federal wildlife agencies have been dominated by narrow special interests, prioritizing the management of a handful of game species for recreational and economic purposes rather than upholding biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the intrinsic value of wildlife.
This model is broken. It fails to address the interconnected crises of mass extinction, habitat destruction, and climate change. And it ignores the voices of the vast majority of people who care about wildlife but have no seat at the table.
Wildlife and ecosystems cannot wait. We need science-informed, ethical, and democratic wildlife policy.
Our Pathways to Change
Wildlife for All is pursuing systemic change through an integrated strategy that shifts governance structures, transforms public narratives, and builds collective power.
Democratizing Wildlife Governance
Wildlife belongs to everyone—and themselves—not just those who hunt, fish, or extract resources. Yet, state wildlife commissions and agencies are still controlled by a small minority that excludes diverse citizens and favors industry interests. That’s why we are:
- Reforming state commissions to include scientists, Indigenous leaders, and advocates for biodiversity and climate resilience.
- Modernizing funding to reduce reliance on hunting and fishing license revenue and instead secure broad-based funding that serves all species.
- Ensuring public participation, transparency, and accountability in wildlife governance.
Shifting Narratives and Public Awareness
The dominant wildlife management narrative treats wildlife as resources for human use. Instead, we are:
- Challenging outdated narratives that frame wildlife as a resource to be managed for human use rather than as vital members of ecosystems.
- Amplifying diverse voices to reshape the conversation around wildlife.
- Sharing stories and knowledge that exposes this system and inspires action to change it.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Speak Up
Add your name to demand democratic, science-informed wildlife policy that serves ecosystems—not extractive interests.
Find Your State
Speak up for wildlife in your state and upcoming meetings.
Advocacy Toolkit
Get organized to push for change in your state.
Support The Work
Give $5 for systemic change.
Strengthening Legal and Policy Tools
Policy change is critical for shifting wildlife governance toward an ethical, science-informed model. We are:
- Creating model legislation for states to adopt across the country.
- Challenging entrenched policies that harm biodiversity and exclude public participation.
- Partnering with legal experts and grassroots movements to push for policy shifts that prioritize ecological health and justice.
Building a Powerful Movement
True systemic change requires a broad-based movement that brings together wildlife advocates, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, conservationists, scientists, environmental justice advocates, and local communities. We are:
- Growing a national coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to wildlife governance reform.
- Supporting grassroots organizing that mobilizes communities to demand change at the state and federal levels.
- Training advocates and policymakers to advance science-driven, equitable wildlife policies.
