INSIGHTS

NAWCA and DU
Conservation Partnerships in Action

By Don Young, Executive Vice President

If there’s one thing the people of DU have learned over the past 65-plus years of conservation work, it’s the value of partnerships. These days, there’s not a single DU project in the works that is not the result of a partnership effort with an individual, a corporation or foundation, a state or federal agency, or some combination of these.

In December, President George W. Bush signed a bill to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The reauthorization of this wetlands conservation legislation was the culmination of a remarkable effort by DU supporters and others to continue this great conservation success story (see “Mixed Bag,” pg. 10). And one of the primary reasons NAWCA has been so successful is that it is designed to promote partnerships for conservation. Because every federal dollar contributed to wetlands conservation through NAWCA must be matched by at least one additional dollar from other sources, this program “primes the pump” and encourages organizations like DU, corporations, agencies, and individuals to raise money and thereby accelerate the job of waterfowl and wetlands conservation.

NAWCA is a great model for the success of conservation partnerships. Another great example is a group called Ducks Unlimited. People from all walks of life, waterfowl hunters, other conservation-minded individuals, major corporations, small businesses, and government agencies are all partners that contribute to the DU mission. Whether you’re attending your local DU fund-raising event, serving as a volunteer on a local committee, or contacting your representatives in Washington in support of wildlife-friendly legislation, you’re an invaluable partner in DU too.

Much of our strength comes from grassroots supporters like you. For years, DU members have been the driving force in raising money to fund DU’s conservation mission. Today, many of those members are contributing in other ways as well. For example, thousands of DU members urged their congressmen to support reauthorization of NAWCA through the DU Web site, by phone, or by mail. In turn, many of our nation’s leading lawmakers from both parties took the lead and ushered this bill through the legislative process. And, finally, President Bush invited DU’s leaders to a special White House ceremony when he signed the bill, and in his remarks singled out DU for its leadership role. He also said: “This legislation shows that when government and landowners and conservationists and others work together, we can make dramatic progress in preserving the beauty and the quality of our environment.”
Now, that’s a great partnership in action!

Thank you for your help in renewing the NAWCA success story. And, as always, thank you for your continued support of DU.