Virginia NWTF Recognized by DWR for Conservation Success
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — On behalf of the entire Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, DWR Executive Director Ryan Brown honored the Virginia NWTF State Chapter with a certificate of appreciation during the state awards banquet, held in Roanoke.
"I was proud to recognize the Virginia NWTF State Chapter at its 2025 awards banquet," Brown said. "This recognition is just a small gesture of the tremendous appreciation that we at DWR feel for the chapter's efforts and their contributions to the agency and our wildlife. They have helped get conservation on the ground where we otherwise would lack the resources and enabled our staff to obtain much-needed equipment that the agency was not able to procure on its own."
This recognition highlights the longstanding partnership between the NWTF and the DWR and the NWTF's unwavering commitment to habitat conservation, public outreach, education and the conservation of Virginia's wildlife.
In 2024, the Virginia NWTF State Chapter budgeted $211,300 for conservation projects, $98,000 for equipment and $42,950 for hunting-heritage-related projects, including outreach-education events and chapter scholarships. NWTF conservation project award funding was matched with $925,000 in partner or grant funds for the approved projects, including with DWR, bringing the total impact to $1,277,250 for 2024 projects in the Old Dominion State. Learn more about these recent projects.
As the chapter finalizes its budget for 2025, another historic year of conservation is set to take place this year, a testament to the partnership between the NWTF and the DWR.
"For many years, the Virginia NWTF has worked hand-in-hand with DWR to ensure sustainable management of wildlife and their habitats across the Commonwealth through collaborative conservation projects, community engagement and educational initiatives,” said Jon Joyner, Virginia NWTF State Chapter president. "This recognition by the Virginia DWR reflects the strength and success of our partnership in achieving these goals. The NWTF is proud to continue its mission of conserving wildlife habitat, promoting responsible land stewardship and supporting outdoor heritage initiatives. We will continue to remain engaged with DWR to ensure Virginia's wildlife and wild spaces continue to flourish for many years to come."
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.