Established in 1980 to work directly with private and public landowners in the Chesapeake Bay area, Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage (CWH) is dedicated to designing, restoring, and managing wildlife habitat, including 1,150 acres that we own in Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties and maintain as sanctuary to maximize the benefits for a diversity of wildlife.

CWH stands alone among the region’s conservation organizations—our small staff works with landowners daily to restore wetlands, design and plant meadows, and establish more sustainable agricultural practices.  We are the only non-profit that monitors and maintains these projects long after their completion.

We strive to clean farm runoff while providing critical habitat for local and migratory wildlife, in sharp contrast to conservation groups that devise ways to improve runoff without considering the wildlife struggling to survive in the modern farm landscape. By increasing the amount and diversity of wildlife habitat and educating the public about the critical need for habitat, we are improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

Accomplishments

Over the past 20 years, CWH has restored more than 2,000 acres of wetlands, created more than 5,000 acres of warm-season grass meadows, planted over 1,000 acres of trees, and permanently protected more than 2,600 acres of wildlife habitat. Annually, our staff educates more than 250 farmers, landowners, and students about their role in providing quality habitat for wildlife and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. In 2024, we monitored 79 martin houses and 116 bluebird houses on 29 properties. We farm 130 acres on Kent Island, using sustainable agricultural techniques, and leave 30 acres of corn for migratory waterfowl, like ducks and geese.

CWH is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501 (c)(3). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.