1936
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt convened the first North American Wildlife Conference to stimulate public interest in the management and conservation of America’s natural resources. Conservation leaders of the era, including Aldo Leopold and Ding Darling, recognized the increasing threats to America’s land, water and wildlife resources. From this conference began the General Wildlife Federation, later to be renamed the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
June 20, 1946
NWF affiliates in each state began to emerge in the first years following this landmark conference. On June 20, 1946 a small group of sportsmen, concerned about wildlife management issues and loss of habitat in Mississippi came together to charter the Mississippi Wildlife Federation (MWF). These sportsmen believed citizens could influence how our lands, wildlife, forests, coasts and waterways are managed and they wanted to be a part of the decisions being made. They were absolutely right and over the past 60 years, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation has had a major influence on the conservation and management of our state’s natural resources. What follows is a brief look back at just a few of the times MWF volunteers have made a difference…