At least as important as the acres that are counted as accomplishments are the acres that aren’t counted. For example, DU has been a leader in policy work, such as our advocacy for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) of the Farm Bill. While CRP has enhanced millions of acres for waterfowl, none of those acres are counted as conserved by DU because it is impossible to quantify the CRP acreage that accurately reflects DU’s role in maintaining its support. Similarly, each year DU provides technical assistance to landowners who manage hundreds of thousands of acres for waterfowl. Those “technical assistance” acres are tracked each year, but even though landowners often put our advice into practice, we do not count those as conserved acres. In fact, DU members alone voluntarily manage hundreds of thousands of acres to benefit waterfowl that are not added to the record of DU accomplishments.
As important as these acreage accomplishments are, the big question remains: “Are we making progress in securing the future of North America’s waterfowl populations?” The answer to that question lies in the answer to another question: “What changes are occurring to the landscapes most important to waterfowl?”
Scientists have only recently begun acquiring the tools necessary to measure the capability of North America’s habitats and landscapes to support waterfowl populations. DU and the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) recently looked at that question for Canada’s PPR and found that despite the significant changes that have occurred on that landscape since 1986, the efforts of DU and other partners have maintained its capability to produce ducks, a remarkable achievement. With its landscape-level approach, the PHJV is forging new ground in measuring conservation needs and accomplishments.
No matter how conservation success is measured, now or in the future, DU members can be tremendously proud of the waterfowl habitat that has been conserved as a direct result of their support. But while these accomplishments deserve celebration, significant challenges remain. Much has yet to be done to secure the future of waterfowl populations in North America, and DU remains dedicated to protecting the habitats they require.
Dr. Scott Yaich is director of conservation programs at DU’s national headquarters in Memphis.