Advocate

Including advocacy in our mission sets us apart.

We are one of the only statewide environmental organizations with full-time staff who advocate for wildlife, land conservation, and protection of our region’s natural resources. Using a scientific, fact-based approach, we work to gain funding for land preservation, protect threatened and endangered species, and advocate for environmentally responsible energy policies.

As the state affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, we address more than 50 environmental issues on the federal, state, and local level.

2020 Advocacy Agenda

Clean Water

Investments at the federal and state level will improve our water quality, so we are advocating for:

Sustainable, dedicated clean water funding
Full funding in the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program
Robust funding for the Delaware River Basin Program Restoration Program
Protection of freshwater wetlands

Land & Habitat Protection

Protection and preservation of open spaces provides habitat for wildlife, replenishes our drinking water supply, and removes air pollutants. We encourage:

Reduce plastic pollution
Full funding for Delaware’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation Programs
Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
Transparent Coastal Zone Regulatory Process
Implementation of Delaware’s Ecological and Extinction Task Force Recommendations related to native plants

Climate & Energy

We must slow and limit damage caused by climate change with improved energy conservation, efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction. We support:

Increasing Delaware’s Renewable Portfolio Standards
Planning at the local, state, and federal level for the impacts from climate change. Delaware is creating a Climate Change Action Plan. Make your voice heard – submit your comments. Learn more about sustainability planning in Wilmington: Climate Justice for a Prosperous Sustainable Wilmington Report.

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Support our Clean Water Campaign

Since March 2015, Delaware Nature Society, along with our partners Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Center for the Inland Bays, has been running a statewide clean water campaign.

The Clean Water: Delaware’s Clear Choice campaign:

Builds an alliance of Delaware stakeholders to support sustainable funding for clean water.
Supports efforts to ensure that funding for clean water improvement projects places an emphasis on green infrastructure projects.
Lays critical groundwork to further educate and connect residents to their local waterways and empower them to take action to improve the quality of these waterways.

We believe that securing funding for clean water can lead to a cleaner environment, healthier crops and food sources, improved economy, and increased tourism. By securing support for clean water initiatives throughout the state, we are securing a better, stronger Delaware. Clean water is truly Delaware’s clear choice.

We need your help

This campaign is funded by the William Penn Foundation .

Plastic Bag Ban

Delaware bans plastic bags! Thanks for your support to reduce hazardous plastic pollution in Delaware! The ban will take effect on January 1, 2021.

Learn More

The Clean Water Rally and Funding

Over 125 clean water advocates joined us for the 5th Annual Rally in 2019. Our advocacy lead to the inclusion of $20 million for clean water funding in Delaware’s budget for Fiscal Year 2020. That’s $10 million more than last year!

More About Our Clean Water Rally