Sound CARE Progress Update for 2007

Sound CARE is a comprehensive initiative designed to restore, enhance, and protect wetland habitat to benefit waterfowl, other wetland-dependent species, and people.  CARE is an acronym for Conservation of Agriculture, Resources, and the Environment.  Continued loss of wetland habitat within the state and the importance of the breeding grounds to waterfowl that winter in North Carolina are the key factors behind Sound CARE.  The goal of Sound CARE is to protect, restore, and enhance 70,000 acres during the next five years at a cost of $27 million.  In North Carolina, a minimum of 23,000 acres will be conserved through restoration and enhancement projects on public and private lands, conservation easements, and land acquisition while the remaining 47,000 acres will be conserved on the breeding grounds.

Click here to view the 2007 Sound CARE Progress Report (pdf).

Click here to view a small, ten minute video discussing the efforts behind Sound CARE, and why they are so vital to the wetlands of North Carolina.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan and Ducks Unlimited’s Conservation Plan incorporate the use of partnerships to fulfill the mission of protecting and restoring wetlands habitat.  As a partner, you can help conserve wetland habitat for wildlife.  Your financial gift will be leveraged several times its value when Ducks Unlimited seeks matching funds to complete habitat conservation projects here in North Carolina as well as the breeding ground areas that are critical to North Carolina's migratory waterfowl. 

HEALTHY SOUNDS MEAN HEALTHY WETLANDS

North Carolina has an abundance of wetlands, from mountain streams to bottomland hardwoods to coastal sounds and bays.  Although most wetlands are located in the eastern portion of the state, the concern is statewide since impacted streams and rivers located in the piedmont and mountain regions eventually reach the coast.  Poor water quality affects fish and wildlife resources along with the recreational, commercial, and functional values that wetlands provide to North Carolinians.  Since waterfowl are migratory and use North Carolina’s wetlands during the winter, it is critical that fundraising efforts associated with Sound CARE contribute to conservation efforts on the breeding areas.  Without nesting habitat and associated wetlands, waterfowl are not able to breed successfully and prepare for migration to wintering areas.  The breeding grounds are under the same pressures that threaten North Carolina’s wetlands.

THE NEED IN NORTH CAROLINA

Wildlife-related activities contribute over $2.4 billion to the economy of North Carolina and 2.3 million North Carolinians (39% of the state population) participate in these activities.  Opportunities to enjoy wildlife-related activities exist year-round, whether it is waterfowl hunting on Pamlico Sound during the winter, trout fishing in a mountain stream during summer, or watching shorebirds migrate along the Outer Banks in the fall.  With a rich diversity of fish and wildlife resources comes a responsibility to conserve the habitats they require to survive.  For waterfowl, high-quality habitat is needed throughout the birds’ annual life cycle: during breeding seasons, fall migration, winter “recovery” months, and spring migration.  Conservation of habitat is essential so that our children may come to know and enjoy the wonder of North Carolina’s natural resources.

 North Carolina

• Annually winters over 350,000 waterfowl, including up to 75% of the Atlantic Flyway population of canvasbacks and at least 80% of the continental population of tundra swans.
• Besides canvasbacks, the bays and sounds provide habitat for redheads, scaup, and other diving ducks.
• Rivers, inland lakes, ponds, and forested wetlands provide critical habitat for mallards, black ducks, northern pintails, ring-necked ducks, and wood ducks.
• For resident wildlife species, like wood ducks and great blue herons, wetlands must provide year-round habitat needs, including food and shelter.
• Over 50% (nearly 6 million acres) of North Carolina’s original wetlands have been lost.
• Between 1974 and 1983, the state lost 1.2 million acres of forested and scrub-shrub wetlands.  That’s nearly 250 football fields per day for 10 years!  This loss accounted for 46% of the total wetland loss in the U.S. during that period. 

THE NEED ON THE BREEDING GROUNDS

Factors associated with breeding, such as nest success and survival, have the greatest influence on waterfowl population growth.  The link between the breeding grounds and North Carolina is obvious – waterfowl that winter in the state are migrating to breeding grounds located in the northern U.S. and Canada.  The most important areas for North Carolina waterfowl include the Prairie Pothole Region, the Western Boreal Forest, and Eastern Canada.

  Prairie Pothole Region

• Covers approximately 335,000 square miles and stretches from southern Iowa to north central Alberta.
• Between 50-90% of the wetlands in this area have been lost or severely degraded to facilitate agricultural development while 62% (56 million acres) of the native grasslands have been destroyed.
• Supports 20-30 million breeding waterfowl and provides important migration habitat for tundra swans.
• In wet years, 70% or more of the continent’s duck production originates in this region and the area is recognized as the most significant breeding waterfowl habitat in the world.
• Especially important to pintails, canvasbacks, redheads, green-winged teal, and gadwall that winter in North Carolina.
• Over 225 other species of migratory birds use the Prairie Pothole Region.

 Western Boreal Forest

• Covers approximately 1.1 million square miles stretching from western Ontario to central Alaska and is one of the largest forested regions in the world.
• Supports 12-14 million breeding waterfowl.
• Especially important to scaup, pintails, and ring-necked ducks wintering in North Carolina.
• Permanent wetlands are used by millions of molting waterfowl, including those that migrate from the Prairie Pothole Region.
• Once thought to be undisturbed and remote, the Western Boreal Forest is now threatened by forestry, agriculture, hydroelectric development, and extraction of petroleum resources.

 Eastern Canada

• Covers approximately 1 million square miles in 6 Canadian provinces.
• Provides breeding, molting, staging, migrating, and wintering habitat for over 8 million waterfowl.
• It is especially important to mallards, black ducks, ring-necked ducks, green-winged teal, Canada and greater snow geese that winter in North Carolina.

The need is urgent – wetland and upland habitat continue to disappear in these critical areas and the loss is attributable to many of the same factors occurring in North Carolina.

Under Sound CARE, Ducks Unlimited will partner with private citizens, corporations, foundations, non-profit organizations, and local, state and federal entities to complete habitat conservation projects for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife, and the citizens of North Carolina.

Sound CARE Major Sponsor Commitments