Natural Infrastructure Center for Environmental Justice and Resilience
Recognizing the growing importance of natural infrastructure in light of the accelerating impacts of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and ongoing environmental injustices, the National Wildlife Federation is establishing the Natural Infrastructure Center for Environmental Justice and Resilience (NICER) to support the advancement of natural infrastructure projects that benefit environmental justice communities and wildlife.
The NICER will be a centralized "hub," offering resources and education while also serving as a convening space to strengthen relationships, foster collaboration, and weave together a network of practitioners, community leaders, and allies to further natural infrastructure solutions.
Led by the National Wildlife Federation's Environmental Justice, Health, and Community Resilience and Revitalization Program, our team integrates and uplifts environmental justice principles in every aspect of the Center’s work and prioritizes benefiting and supporting historically marginalized and underserved communities through our initiatives.
Our Approach
Support for Community Leadership
- Prioritize supporting—not leading—community-driven projects.
- Engage with initiatives that originate from community input, relationships, direct requests, listening sessions, or community-led plans.
- Collaborate with environmental justice focused community-based organizations and local leaders as co-developers or decision-makers.
Ensure tangible mutual benefits to both communities and wildlife
- Deliver ecological benefits such as improved habitat, water quality, and biodiversity.
Focus on natural infrastructure solutions
- Utilizing natural systems and processes
Centering Environmental Justice
- Commit to inclusive processes guided by the 17 Principles for Environmental Justice and the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing
- Prioritize projects explicitly designed to advance environmental justice outcomes, such as reducing environmental burdens, increasing community power, or addressing historical disparities
