Making a Difference on Public Lands

NPLD 2024 IMPACT

On September 28, 2024 tens of thousands of people across the country—and the globe— joined together to restore and improve America’s public lands as part of the 31st annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD).

Together for Tomorrow

Our 2024 theme was "Together for Tomorrow” to ensure the longevity of our cherished places while fostering environmental stewardship among youth and their communities. From trail maintenance to tree planting, beach clean-ups to forest bathing, and more, volunteers of all ages and abilities rolled up their sleeves and worked together for a common goal—stewarding America’s natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

National Public Lands Day Impacts

52,591

Participants

758

NPLD Events

342,855

Number of Participant Hours

10,500,000

Value of Volunteer Service

a man paints a iron fence under a big tree during National Public Lands Day

four men in buffalo soldier uniform hold flags as they pose during National Public Lands

NPLD volunteers pose for a group photo after a trash clean up at BLM site Tyee Landing

NPS director Chuck Sams stands with volunteers at Gravely Point during National Public Lands Day

Conservation IMPACTs

67,404

Acres of Public Lands Restored

14,868

Native Plants Planted

252

Miles of Trails Maintained

521,902

Square Feet of Invasive Species Removed

456

Miles of Waterways Maintained

63

Public Facilities Built or Maintained

118,123

Pounds of Trash Collected

385

Number of Infrastructure Features Built or Maintained

National Public Lands Day Events Nationwide

Over 700 events were held in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. An estimated 50,000 participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds showed their support for our country's natural spaces by pitching in on trash pick-ups and other improvement projects, participating in educational activities, or simply enjoying the many mental and physical health benefits these spaces offer.

NPLD Photo Album

Map of the US

National Focus Areas

We've highlighted a few events that showcased the National Focus Areas for National Public Lands Day 2024.

Community Building and Inclusivity

NPLD brings people of all abilities together with a shared goal of improving public lands. The Boise District of BLM Idaho partnered with several organizations that serve individuals with physical disabilities to maintain accessible trails in the Black Cliffs Climbing Area.

Volunteerism

NPLD events play a vital role in conserving and enhancing public lands for future generations. The Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up, an Army Corps of Engineers event in Georgia, gathers thousands of volunteers at over 30 sites along the lake to maintain its ecological health and improve recreation amenities for all.

Youth Engagement

NPLD plays a crucial role in engaging youth by providing positive outdoor experiences and instilling a sense of care and responsibility towards the environment. At Cabrillo National Monument’s Junior Scientist Day, youth met with scientists and engineers to spark curiosity about their roles as future environmental leaders.

Physical and Mental Health

NPLD underscores the critical role public lands play in our physical and mental well-being. In the community garden of Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, discussions on wellness and decompression led to a meditation practice.

Environmental Education

NPLD provides an opportunity to discover, learn, and nurture a profound connection to our environment through our public lands. In 2024, NEEF developed the Outdoor Discoveries Guide for site managers to easily add engaging educational activities that can transform a volunteer event into a fun opportunity to connect with young audiences.

Resiliency and Impact

NPLD contributes to the resilience of our parks and communities in the face of climate challenges. Hundreds of events contributed to the health of our planet like litter cleanups, tree plantings, and invasive species removal events, and dozens of events pivoted to storm cleanup after the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

a diverse group of youth stand with Forest Service mascot Woodsy the Owl on National Public Lands Day

NPLD Signature Event: US National Arboretum

For this year’s National Public Lands Day Signature Event, NEEF worked with the USDA Forest Service and Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) to host several educational and volunteer activities at the Washington Youth Garden within the US National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

Local volunteers joined FONA to kick-off the day’s festivities by planting fruit trees around the garden, supported by Casey Trees, a DC-based nonprofit that provides tree planting services and educates volunteers on tree planting and care. They also participated in miscellaneous garden maintenance tasks while learning about the history of the garden from FONA staff.

The public was also invited to participate in other activities taking place on the garden grounds, including educational tables from Corazón Latino, Veteran Compost, the Forest Service, and the Greater Washington, DC, Chapter of Buffalo Soldiers (9th & 10th Cavalry Association).

J. Sage Raindancer, a certified forest bathing guide, led attendees through nature therapy exercises in the pollinator garden, and FONA’s Green Ambassador Program hosted a honey tasting from the garden’s bee colony. Woodsy Owl was also in attendance to take photos with fans young and old.

Many thanks to our partners at FONA, the Forest Service, and the National Arboretum for helping to make the day a special one. Their commitment to ensuring our country's natural spaces are cared for and protected for future generations truly embodies this year's NPLD theme of ‘Together for Tomorrow.’

Sara Espinoza, NEEF, President and CEO

Community Science

NPLD BioBlitz with iNaturalist

NEEF hosted a citizen science project on the site iNaturalist, an online community for sharing nature observations, identifying species, and contributing to science and conservation data, to host a special National Public Lands Day BioBlitz on America’s public lands. Participants from Oregon to Florida have made over 350 documented observations of more than 260 separate species.

Learn More