Tribal member making a difference to protect wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, are pleased to announce that “Rita” Payton Stanley, Oklahoma City, has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat through its Garden for Wildlife program. In addition, Ms. Payton Stanley’s habitat has been co-certified with NWF’s state affiliate, the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma.

NWF celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports birds, bees, frogs and other local wildlife. Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water and doesn’t rely on pesticides.

For over 45 years, the Garden for Wildlife movement has recognized over 227,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens across the United States, encompassing more than 2.5 million acres supporting wildlife locally. Backyards, urban gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos and community landscapes can all be recognized as wildlife habitats through the program.

“Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,” said NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban area or a rural plot of land, you can make a difference for local wildlife. Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is fun and easy and makes a real difference for neighborhood wildlife. It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife,” he added.

“From my Choctaw father, growing up in rural Atoka County, I learned people, the earth, the planet, the universe, are all one and are eternally entwined. Wildlife must be preserved,” said Payton Stanley.

Many of NWF’s state affiliate organizations are partners in the Certified Wildlife Habitat® program. Habitats in partnering states have national and state certifications.

Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is now also part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a national effort to create a million gardens that provide habitat for declining pollinator insects such butterflies and bees.

Participants who have their wildlife habitat garden certified receive a personalized certificate with a unique habitat number, a one-year membership to NWF with a subscription to National Wildlife magazine, a subscription to the Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter, a 10 percent discount to the National Wildlife catalog, and the exclusive right to post a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign.

For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit www.nwf.org/garden or call 1-800-822-9919.