Making a Difference on Public Lands

NPLD 2019 IMPACT

On September 28, 2019, over 156,000 volunteers participated in volunteer activities at more than 2,000 public lands sites in 49 states, including Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.

26th Annual National Public Lands Day Sees 38% Increase in Volunteer Turnout

Volunteers joined in trail building projects, coastal and park clean ups, interpretive classes, guided hikes and bike rides, and other outdoor fun. It was all part of the 26th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands.

2019 NPLD impact

Each year, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) coordinates NPLD with support from national corporate sponsor Toyota North America, seven federal agency partners, hundreds of state and local partners, and dozens of nonprofit organizations. The main goal of this national volunteering effort is to promote the connection between people and the environment. NEEF estimates that this year’s NPLD volunteers contributed almost $16M in services to public lands.

National Public Lands Day is not only a day of service, it is a day to connect with others and to recognize the benefits of their helping hands. We simply could not keep our national forests and grasslands healthy, resilient and productive without the help and support of our volunteers and partners.

Chris French, Deputy Chief of National Forest System, US Forest Service

National Public Lands Day
2019 NPLD Video

Recognizing the importance of encouraging more people to get outside and enjoy public spaces, NPLD was also designated a Fee-Free Day by the National Park Service and other participating federal agencies, including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

NPLD Impacts

156,093
Volunteers
2,117
NPLD Sites Across the Country
$
15,900,000
Value of Volunteer Work

 

 

Conservation IMPACTs

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Green shovel with dark blue handle

1,002,647

Square Feet of Invasive Species Removed

Funding communities
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Three trees

35,159

Trees and Flowers Planted

increasing competence
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Green recycling can/bin icon

139,187

Pounds of Trash Collected

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Home with solar roof with sun shining in background

136

Public Facilities Built or Maintained

supporting diversity
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Mountain with flag on top surrounded by green forest

42,252

Acres of Public Lands Restored

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Person running in mountain

268

Miles of Trails and Rivers Maintained

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large group of people posing for a group picture after a National Public Lands Day event

2019 Signature Site: Rock Creek Park

At the NPLD Signature Event in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, NEEF partnered with the National Park Service, Rock Creek Conservancy, and Toyota to host over 150 volunteers at one of the country’s oldest national parks. They were welcomed by David Vela, Acting Deputy Director of Operations for the National Park Service, who spoke of the importance of NPLD as a way to give back to the public lands that provide us with so much. Volunteers then spread out throughout this 1,800-acre urban oasis, rolled up their sleeves, and got to work on a variety of trail maintenance, clean-up, and native planting activities.

Also at the event, Kevin Butt, general manager of Toyota Environmental Sustainability, announced a $200,000 grant to support conservation projects within the National Capital Region (NCR). This area includes Washington, DC as well as portions of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Serving as NPLD corporate sponsor for the 21st straight year, Toyota hosted two dozen additional volunteer events around the country on Saturday.

Rock Creek Park Named NPLD 2019 Signature Site

Each year, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) partners with a public lands site to host...

2019 NPLD Highlighted Sites: Winners

NPLD Highlighted Sites: Sponsorship Opportunity Thanks to all the Site Managers that took the time to nominate...

This grant helps parks to effectively reduce invasive plant impacts and increase habitat for threatened native wildlife, it ties in with our biodiversity goals and aims to conserve habitat for future generations.

Kevin Butt, General manager of Toyota Environmental Sustainability

NPLD Stories

Read how volunteers, site managers, families, and more spent their time volunteering for National Public Lands Day.

Beaching on NPLD

Saskia Gomez likes to spend weekends at the beach, and National Public Lands Day is no different. However...

A Little Kaizen and Yokoten Make a Successful NPLD Event

Kathryn Ragsdale, corporate communications manager for Toyota Motor North America, has been a National Public...

Love Your Local Park? Set Up an NPLD Event to Take Care of It!

Whether you’re a park employee who loves preserving public lands or simply someone who has fond memories of...

 

 

group of volunteers on National Public Lands Day stand in the water planting mangroves
Make an Impact
Support NPLD

Thank you for your interest in National Public Lands Day (NPLD) sponsorship! NEEF is offering several opportunities for you to support this exciting event. Contact our team to learn more.

National Corporate Sponsor

Toyota
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Toyota logo

Other Sponsors

International Paper
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International Paper logo

Federal Partners

NPS
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National Park Service Logo
Bureau of Land Management
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Bureau of Land Management Logo
USDA Forest Service
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USDA Forest Service logo
US Army Corps of Engineers
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US Army Corps of Engineers logo
US Fish and Wildlife Service
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US Fish and Wildlife Service Logo
US Department of Interior Bureau of Reclaimation
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US Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclaimation