News from the non-profits

Ducks Unlimited receives Conservation Champion Award North American Migratory Bird Joint Ventures honor longtime partners

Ducks Unlimited Inc. and Ducks Unlimited Canada were honored with a Conservation Champion Award on March 21 at the North American Migratory Bird Joint Venture 25th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C.

"Ducks Unlimited has been a proud and active member of virtually every migratory bird joint venture management board since their inception, and we strongly believe in this model of 'good government,'" said DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt, who accepted the award on behalf of DU. "Partnerships like these are needed now more than ever, as we work in these challenging times to ensure that every conservation dollar goes to the highest need and greatest priority."

The Conservation Champion Award is given to key organizations and individuals who have demonstrated a long-term commitment and dedication to the work of the joint ventures. DU was one of nine winners this year.

According to the award committee, "Ducks Unlimited Inc. and Ducks Unlimited Canada have been integral partners, advocates and leaders in the development of joint ventures from their inception. The unprecedented success of joint ventures as we know them today is in no small part the result of the long-standing participation and dedication of Ducks Unlimited."

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the North American Migratory Bird Joint Ventures were created in 1986 as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). The year before, waterfowl populations had reached all-time lows and, recognizing the importance of waterfowl and wetlands to North Americans and the need for international cooperation to help in the recovery of a shared resource, the U.S. and Canadian governments developed a strategy—NAWMP—to restore waterfowl populations through habitat protection, restoration and enhancement.

Ducks Unlimited is actively involved in joint ventures across the continent, from planning, design and research to delivery and monitoring. DU staff members are part of joint venture management boards and technical working groups, preparing project proposals, developing partner networks and delivering projects on the ground.

"The longtime partnership Ducks Unlimited has with the joint ventures, and with our vast network of partners throughout the conservation arena, is at the heart of effective bird habitat conservation in North America," Schmidt said. "We are proud and honored to accept this award on behalf of the hundreds of employees and almost a million supporters of Ducks Unlimited."

DU recognizes Interior Secretary Salazar with achievement award

Ducks Unlimited has awarded one of its highest honors to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. During a North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference breakfast ceremony this morning at the Hilton Atlanta, DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt presented Salazar with a 2012 DU Wetland Conservation Achievement Award in the Senior Federal Official category. Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, accepted the award on the secretary’s behalf.

“Secretary Salazar has shown tremendous leadership in conceiving and leading the America’s Great Outdoors effort,” Schmidt said. “With the Prairie Pothole Region as one of DU’s top conservation priorities, we are especially appreciative of the secretary’s recognition of the Dakota Grasslands Conservation Area as a jewel in America’s conservation crown and including it in the effort.”

Senior Federal Official is one of six categories of DU’s Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards. These awards recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America’s wetlands and other waterfowl habitat.

During the awards presentation, Schmidt cited Secretary Salazar’s championing the effectiveness and efficiency of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and his advocacy of full funding for the program.

“As a sportsman himself, Secretary Salazar has been an advocate on behalf of hunters and anglers in the conservation agenda,” Schmidt said. “He has invested in work important to sportsmen, ranging from the announcement of the State of the Birds report to the rolling out of a special federal duck stamp dedicated to restoring the national wildlife refuges along our Gulf Coast.”

Secretary Salazar has also been an active leader in his role as chairman of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. He has been an enthusiastic partner to wildlife conservation organizations, such as DU, and has worked tirelessly to consider the impacts of renewable energy on wildlife.

The secretary grew up in the San Luis Valley of south central Colorado and previously served as that state’s U.S. senator and attorney general. While in Colorado, he authored and later chaired the Great Outdoors Colorado Amendment, a major land conservation program.

To view all 2012 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award winners, please visit www.ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres, thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Emily Havens

(901) 758-3851

ehavens@ducks.org

Senate vote advances historic conservation funding for Gulf Coast, other key waterfowl habitats Amendment directs oil spill penalties and reauthorizes LWCF through 2022

After months working side by side with legislators, Ducks Unlimited applauded the Senate’s passage of an amendment that could impact not only restoration efforts along the oil-spill-stricken Gulf Coast, but also expand funding for land conservation nationwide.

The Nelson-Landrieu-Shelby RESTORE Amendment (SA 1822) was approved yesterday as an addition to the Senate Transportation Bill (S. 1813), with a vote of 76-22. The amendment will ensure that Clean Water Act penalties collected from those responsible for the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be dedicated to Gulf Coast restoration. The amendment also contains a two-year funding plan for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) of $700 million per year and the reauthorization of LWCF through 2022. The Senate and House of Representatives must now pass the transportation bill to carry the amendment forward.

“We applaud yesterday’s Senate action to recognize the importance of oil spill fines reaching the natural resources that received the brunt of the damages,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “We are also delighted that the Senate has significantly increased funding levels for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is critical to natural resource conservation. We certainly hope the House of Representatives will agree with these Senate proposals.”

LWCF provides matching grants to states and local governments to acquire and develop public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. It also funds shared federal land acquisition and the development of conservation strategy. The program has helped conserve some of America’s best fish and wildlife habitat and most popular sporting destinations. This boost in funding for the program is unprecedented in recent times.

“DU’s more than 1 million supporters are just part of the larger group of sportsmen and women in America who will benefit from the increased funding and reauthorization of the LWCF program,” Hall said. “LWCF provides public access to prime hunting and fishing areas, as well as protecting waterfowl nesting sites in the Prairie Pothole Region, DU’s most significant conservation priority area. Working to protect LWCF and its reach has been a major focus of our public policy staff in Washington and across the country.”

With the RESTORE Act and LWCF funding and reauthorization added to the Senate Transportation Bill, Ducks Unlimited will continue to gather support from members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to ensure this larger package is enacted in the coming weeks.

News from the Non-profits

right) John Tomke, DU de Mexico president; Dan Ashe, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service director, accepting the 2012 Senior Federal Official award on behalf of Interior Secretary Salazar; and Paul Schmidt, DU chief conservation officer