Ducks Unlimited Surpasses 2006 Conservation Goals

[Bufflehead]

Ducks Unlimited Surpasses 2006 Conservation Goals

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 3, 2006 ─ Ducks Unlimited had a busy year in fiscal year 2006. In the last 12 months, Ducks Unlimited has conserved nearly 170,000 acres across America, surpassing its conservation goals for the year.

?We?re proud of this accomplishment, and we couldn?t have done it without the tremendous dedication and support of the entire DU family,? said DU Executive Vice President Don Young. ?But we can?t rest on our laurels now. Every 10 minutes, an acre of invaluable wetland habitat vanishes. However, as we enter our 70th year, we have proven a formidable force in the race against time to reverse this trend.?

This level of habitat conservation, year after year, is one of the most important reasons that Ducks Unlimited is the leader in wetland and waterfowl conservation. Recognizing the dire situation that faces North America?s invaluable wetlands, DU has turned catastrophe into opportunity. Across the continent, DU members and supporters banded together to conserve more than 11.6 million acres in the past 70 years.

Through ongoing land protection strategies and fund-raising efforts, DU has exceeded its annual goals for conserved acreage by 21 percent. In addition, DU engineers and biologists worked with landowners on nearly 650,000 technical assistance acres to institute land use practices that are more environmentally friendly.

For every few acres that are gained, however, there are others destroyed. According to Scott Yaich, director of conservation planning at DU?s national headquarters, despite past successes, there still remains much to be done to save North American wetlands from their current plight.

"Broad commitments to habitat conservation are increasingly important because, despite Ducks Unlimited's successes, the nation continues to experience a net loss of waterfowl habitat,? Yaich said. ?The United States still loses more than 80,000 acres of wetlands every year. These wetlands are not only some of our most important waterfowl habitats, but they also benefit everyone by protecting against flooding and improving drinking water quality.?

According to architect and innovator Frank Lloyd Wright, success has a price, namely, dedication, hard work and a firm devotion to any endeavor that is undertaken. In the face of the immense threats facing the environment, Ducks Unlimited volunteers, members, partners and staff have displayed all of these qualities, allowing DU to succeed in its efforts to conserve North American wetlands and waterfowl.

Only time will tell what the next year will bring to the nation?s jeopardized wetlands and their wildlife and waterfowl inhabitants. Although the outlook for America?s wetlands often looks bleak, as wetland loss accelerates year after year, DU and its supporters will continue strong and effective conservation efforts to reverse this trend before it is too late.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ─ nature' s most productive ecosystems ─ and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.