FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelli Alfano,
Public Affairs Coordinator
734/623/2000 or kalfano@ducks.org
DUCKS UNLIMITED ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SUPPORT THE NEW GREAT LAKES RESTORATION STRATEGY
Chicago, IL – December 12, 2005 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced its intent to secure and invest $8 million in support of the short-term habitat restoration goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Strategy (Strategy) released by the Bush Administration today in Chicago. Ducks Unlimited will commit efforts to implement Strategy goals, especially those oriented towards wetland protection, restoration and public policy work. The Great Lakes Restoration Strategy was developed during 2005 by federal, state, and local governments, tribes, business, and other organizations under the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC).
“DU is pleased to make this commitment to wetlands conservation in the Great Lakes watershed,” said Dr. Robert D. Hoffman, director of Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office located in Ann Arbor, MI. “Our staff has been extremely involved in the development of the wetland and habitat components of the Strategy.”
Hoffman praised the Bush Administration, Governors, Mayors, Tribes and their staff for taking leadership in the GLRC during this past year. “Ducks Unlimited appreciates the dedication of the federal, state, local and tribal governments in crafting the Strategy in partnership with business, conservation and environmental groups, and the general public,” said Hoffman. Hoffman also praised the Healing Our Waters Coalition, a large group of diverse Great Lakes organizations for their work in contributing to the Strategy.
The Strategy provides a long-term blueprint from which the Great Lakes community can work together with the federal government to restore one of the world’s most precious resources, the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, and provide a home for a diversity of fish and wildlife, including 30 species of waterfowl.
“DU has played an active role in wetland conservation in the Great Lakes since 1985, but much more needs to be done to conserve wetlands,” stated Gildo Tori, DU’s director of public policy. “International programs such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, DU’s International Conservation Plan, and now the Great Lakes Restoration Strategy have consistently identified the importance of wetlands in the Great Lakes to waterfowl, other wildlife, and perhaps most importantly, to people.”
State natural resources and environmental agencies, federal agencies, foundations and private individuals have routinely collaborated with DU to conduct wetland and associated upland restorations. “We are looking forward to working with our many partners to meet the habitat goals of the Great Lakes Restoration Strategy. It’s going to take hard work, creativity and significant resources, and DU is committed to providing leadership and initiative to get the job done,” concluded Tori.
For more information, contact Gildo Tori, director of public policy @ (cell) 734-646-5105, 734-623-2000 or gtori@ducks.org.
With more than one million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. Since it’s founding in 1937, DU has conserved more than 11 million acres of critical wildlife habitat across North America. Wetlands are nature’s most productive ecosystems, but the United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres every year.
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