Director’s Message
October 2008
September teal season is underway throughout the Southern Region, and some waterfowlers have already opened their 2008-09 season in Canada. The regular duck and goose season in Minnesota will be open in early October. Meanwhile, we look with high expectations toward November for opening day in the states further south. Let’s continue to remind the waterfowl hunting community (too many do not support DU) that the foresight of hunters in the early 1930’s is largely responsible for the sights and sounds of waterfowl we have today. We must be willing to take action today so that those who follow will enjoy first flights forever.
The recent hurricanes have impacted conservation in the south. So far this hurricane season, field offices in Charleston, SC, Lafayette, LA, and now Richmond, TX were temporarily closed. By far, Ike has caused the greatest disturbance to our conservation plans. As I write this (September 17), our Texas staff are making an aerial assessment of damage and developing plans as part of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department team.
Conservation staff continue to rise to the occasion to make adjustments to ensure that waterfowl are well taken care of as they seek wintering habitat in the Southern Region. Our habitat goal in FY09 is to protect 41,985 acres and enhance habitat on 27,360 acres. These acres will be added to our significant all time accomplishment of over 1.6 million conserved acres in the southern region.
The majority (75%) of the $17.6 million dollars required to achieve our FY 09 habitat goals will come from our state and federal partners. Major Sponsors continue to step up to ensure that waterfowl will return to the breeding grounds ready to reproduce. In FY09, major donor funds will provide 13% leaving 12% coming from grassroots.
Our objective is to continue providing wetland habitat for waterfowl in the south while sending increasing dollars to work on the breeding grounds. Within the past few months we have increased our emphasis on locating new, non-traditional revenue sources such as carbon investment and mitigation banking. Stay tuned as these new opportunities develop. Hopefully, we will have a signed contract for $1 million to provide carbon credits to an investment group by the time I report again.
We have undregone some recent staff changes to better position the SRO to meet the challenges of the future. I realize change can be unsettling and distracting, but it is critical to keeping us on track to accomplish DU’s mission in a cost and time efficient manner. One of the things that makes DU the world leader in wetlands conservation is our organization’s focus on a singular goal, “to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever”, and our willingness to be flexible to reach that goal. I ask that each of you continue to focus on your job responsibilities. I know I can count on all of you to rise to these challenges.