BATON ROUGE, LA - August 10, 2005 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) officials in Washington, DC and Louisiana applaud the efforts of Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in urging the federal government to double the money it spends each year on habitat under the Federal Duck Stamp Program. To accomplish this, they are asking their congressional delegations to help create the 2006 Emergency Wetlands Loan Act, modeled after similar legislation passed nearly 45 years ago.

“Those of us in DU were delighted to learn of Gov. Blanco’s intention to work with her fellow governors in championing efforts to increase the protection of critical waterfowl habitat throughout this country”, said Ken Babcock, Director of Operations in DU’s Southern Regional Office. “Waterfowl are continental resources that migrate with no regard to political boundaries. If we are to be successful in maintaining healthy waterfowl populations over the long-term, managers must also set aside their political and geographic differences and adopt a landscape approach to habitat conservation.”

Waterfowl habitat continues to be lost or degraded at staggering rates in the northern reaches of the Central and Mississippi Flyway. The governors’ proposal has the potential to accelerate the conservation of wetlands and grasslands on the Prairie breeding grounds, particularly in the Dakotas and Minnesota where habitat loss is occurring most rapidly.

“Louisiana is among the most important wintering areas for waterfowl in North America, routinely providing habitat for more than 2/3 of the Mississippi Flyway’s waterfowl population” added Hugh Bateman, DU’s Director of Conservation Programs in Louisiana. “Accelerated funding would provide another weapon in our arsenal to secure breeding habitats in perpetuity for a one-time payment of $100 per acre, but it will take tens of millions of dollars to get it done. We don’t have time to waste.”

The first Wetland Loan Act was authorized in 1961. It borrowed against projected revenue from the sale of federal duck stamps purchased by hunters and other conservationists. The act was extended twice, and in 1986, the loan advances were forgiven by Congress. This new legislation is being considered because of the accelerating loss of habitat, particularly in the duck breeding areas of North America.

“Waterfowl and duck hunting are an integral part of Louisiana’s heritage,” said Dwight Landreneau, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. “Anything we can do to bolster the protection and restoration of waterfowl breeding habitat elsewhere in the flyway is good for the ducks, good for Louisiana’s economy, and good for our hunters, birdwatchers and out-of-state visitors.”

According to a June 2005 report commissioned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries citing data from 2003, duck hunting is a $165 million a year business in Louisiana. Retail sales in excess of $89 million annually and more than 1700 jobs are directly associated with duck hunting in the Bayou State.

The details of the proposal, including the amount of the request and geographic priorities, were discussed at a meeting between Ducks Unlimited officials and Rep. Mark Kennedy (MN) Tuesday in Minnesota. “We understand the complexity of this issue and look forward to working with members of Congress and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to discuss the details of how the funds will be allocated and how the loan will be repaid,” said Scott Sutherland, Director of DU’s Governmental Affairs Office in Washington, D.C.

Senior DU volunteers and conservation staff from across the country will be meeting later this week to discuss important conservation issues facing the future of waterfowl, including this legislation.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands ­- nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres each year.

Look for Ducks Unlimited on the World Wide Web at www.ducks.org. Tune into The World of Ducks Unlimited Radio Network, and starting again in July, watch Ducks Unlimited Television on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).