New Report Shows U.S. Wetland Losses Accelerating – Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

New Report Shows U.S. Wetland Losses Accelerating – Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

In essence, from 1998 to 2004 there was a net gain of 32,000 wetland acres per year. From 2004 to 2009 there was a net loss of 13,800 acres per year. Troubling figures for a country that’s looking to save more money by cutting funding for wetland conservation. What this means is that more of us in DU and other conservation groups needs to pick up our game.

 

 

2011 Sportsman’s Night Out :: Thanks For All The Support

Saturday, September 24th’s event was a wonderful success.  Thank you all for coming.  Here are a few of the photos from that evening.

 

 You can view a slideshow here.

Conservation groups say budget cuts would be epic | StarTribune.com

The Star Tribune in Minneapolis/St. Paul has a brief overview of what the budget cuts by the feds are going to look like.  Among the proposals of the House proposed budget are:

• Eliminate funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant program, which over 20 years has protected about 26 million acres of waterfowl habitat in public-private partnerships with landowners, states and groups like Pheasants Forever. Those partners matched the $1 billion in federal allocations with another $2.3 billion.
• Trims $400 million — 90 percent — from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which comes from offshore oil and gas royalties that, since 1964, have gone to provide recreation and protect parks, forest and wildlife areas. Supporters say the fund generates $4 in economic value for every $1 invested.
• Cuts 50,000 acres from the federal Wetland Reserve Program, which pays landowners to protect, restore and enhance wetlands. Enrollment would be capped at about 202,000 acres.

These proposals are not finalized. It is important that if you’re concerned about wetland protection and the clean water act that you let your representatives know your feelings. You can discover who your representatives are by going to http://www.congress.org/.  From there you’ll enter in your zip code to find your lawmakers.

via Conservation groups say budget cuts would be epic | StarTribune.com.

Sportsmen oppose cuts in House funding bill | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com

Among programs that face substantial budget cuts or total elimination are the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, farm bill conservation programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, State and Tribal Wildlife Grants and the Clean Water Act.

“These programs not only protect hunting and fishing access for sportsmen and women, but they are also foundational to fish and wildlife habitat conservation, and stimulate local economies by creating jobs, particularly in rural communities,” said Ben Lamb of the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Budget cuts are not pretty. When there isn’t any money, there isn’t any money. The problem comes to where you put your priorities. Decide wrong and you put future generations at risk.

Take the time to find out who represents you in Washington and let them know how you feel about these issues and how they will affect you and your community. (Click here, put in your zip code, and find out who your reps are.)

Act now. If you don’t, who will?

via Sportsmen oppose cuts in House funding bill | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com.

Wetlands for Tomorrow Campaign :: Ducks Unlimited’s Initiative Has Done Much But Is Looking to Do More

If you haven’t seen the following in your email inbox, please take the moment to look at it here. Ducks Unlimited’s Wetlands for Tomorrow Campaign is doing great things, and its because of the work of volunteers, supporters, and contributors like you.

Dear Ducks Unlimited Supporter,

Thank you. You answered the call and stood up for waterfowl, for our waterfowling tradition, for our legacy to future generations.

During the seven-year Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign, we raised an amazing $1.88 billion, all for the world of waterfowl and wetlands conservation. With this support from people like you, 2 million acres have been conserved, more than 4,865 projects have been completed and our scientists have led well over 100 different research studies to understand the challenges that lay ahead.

Watch our Conservation Highlights video to see the range and scope of the work that your support makes possible. Join us to hear Jim Kennedy, former president of Wetlands America Trust and lifelong champion for Ducks Unlimited, as he kicked off the largest and now most successful campaign in conservation history.

Your investment has helped expand Ducks Unlimited’s conservation efforts in some of the following areas:

• Protection of the Duck Factory — Thousands of acres of seasonal wetlands and native grasslands have been protected, ensuring the future of North America’s most important waterfowl breeding area.

• Restoration of the Gulf of Mexico — With your help we worked to restore and protect the marshes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico.

• Positive public policies to benefit waterfowl prevailed — Philanthropists like you made the call to Washington to support smart legislation for wetlands.

From the grasslands and oceans to the rivers and lakes, you made the difference. Thank you for answering the call. Thank you for taking a stand to protect our irreplaceable natural treasures.

You are one of a million supporters, a strong force for nature. Today our wetlands face new pressures – looming federal budget cuts that would adversely affect all of us who care about, and have funded, wetlands and waterfowl conservation. As conservationists we will continue to answer every call to do the critical work that will protect our vanishing wetlands. With your steadfast support, I have every confidence we will continue to succeed.

Thank you for making Wetlands for Tomorrow a triumph for Ducks Unlimited!

Sincerely yours,

Jim West
Chief Fundraising Officer

On behalf of Chittenango Creek Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, thank you for what you’ve done thus far. We look forward to doing even more in the coming months and years.

DUCKS UNLIMITED’S WORK IN THE GULF OF MEXICO:

DUCKS UNLIMITED’S WORK IN THE DUCK FACTORY

City Tax Money Funding Duck Jam Concerts

Your Tax Money Funding Duck Jam Concerts.

College Station, Texas is supporting the fundraising efforts of their Ducks Unlimited Chapter by waiving fees for them to use the city’s concert venue, the amphitheater at Wolf Penn Creek.  Not only is the town waiving the rental fee but they’re also forgoing their concession fees as well.  This is a big burden on a small town that’s feeling the economic woes like everyone else. But their hope is that supporting DU & this event they’ll be filling hotel beds and putting people into area restaurants. The city has entered into this agreement for the next 5 years.

The first year that the College Station DU chapter put on the event DU Magazine made mention that they brought in nearly $500,000 for the ducks. This was back around 2005.

If you know of anyone in the Texas area who likes good music, good food, and a good time you might want to tell them about the event.

Duck Jam has a Facebook page here.

More information can be found here.

Even if you can’t go, please get the word out and help drive up attendance. Do it for the ducks and the wetlands. Do it for College Station, TX.

 

Wetlands centre nabs international award – News – The Sackville Tribune Post

Wetlands centre nabs international award – News – The Sackville Tribune Post.

The wetlands program at Tantramar Regional High School in Sackville, Canada won international recognition.  They garnered a first place win in the ‘Schools Promoting the Wise Use of Wetlands in the Americas’ competition.  Read more in the link above.

 

 

Ducks Unlimited Working With Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Hagerman works to create more managed wetlands.

DU is working to help flood 300 acres of wetlands around Lake Texhoma.  The area is dependent on rainfall for the existence of the wetlands but systems are being put into place to provide water during seasons of drought.  The region is important for migratory waterfowl and can provide a useful stop as birds travel back and forth from the Gulf Coast region.  Hagerman has asked DU for the help in the project.

Glimpse of Conservation Circa 73 Years Ago « Pheasants Forever Blogs

Glimpse of Conservation Circa 73 Years Ago « Pheasants Forever Blogs.

This blog article shows the cover of a pamphlet produced by More Game Birds in America – A Foundation, which was an early predecessor to Ducks Unlimited.  The blog goes on to discuss the purpose of the pamphlet was to get farmers to conserve portions of their land to provide habitat for game birds.

Funny thing about habitat conservation is that when you provide a wild home for one species you’re protecting many others as well, and you’re creating buffer zones for any crops you’re producing.

It is a good, short article but my only regret is that there isn’t more of the pamphlet to look through.

 

Ducks Unlimited Working in Great Lakes Region To Improve Wetland Habitat

An article about DU’s efforts in the Great Lakes Region discusses current projects.  This is but one of many articles you can find that discusses the many things that DU does with its fundraising efforts and its grants.