JACKSON, Miss., Mar. 27, 2006 – Ducks Unlimited announced that Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran is the recipient of its 2006 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award at the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, in Columbus, Ohio. This annual conference is a forum for natural resource professionals and provides an opportunity for organizations to honor the achievements of those dedicated to protecting natural resources.
“Senator Cochran is a strong supporter of protecting migratory bird habitat through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Federal Duck Stamp Program,” said DU Director of the Governmental Affairs Office Scott Sutherland. “In 1994, DU honored him with the Mississippi Conservationist of the Year Award, and he continues to be a proponent for waterfowl and natural resources in his role on the Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees.”
Each year, DU is proud to recognize individuals from the U.S., Canada or Mexico who have made exceptional contributions to wetlands and waterfowl conservation in North America. This year Senator Cochran, who has been a long-time proponent for conservation in North America, stood out as the federal representative deserving of this award. Because Senator Cochran was unable to attend the conference, DU Executive Vice President Don Young presented him with the award earlier this month in Washington D.C.
Through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), DU partners with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to restore wetlands and associated habitats in Mississippi. WRP is a voluntary program that provides eligible landowners with technical assistance and financial incentives to convert flood-prone, marginal agricultural land to former wetland conditions. This program helps landowners protect soil and water resources as well as establish long-term conservation and enhancement of wildlife habitat.
“We need renewed commitment by Congress for WRP to continue to help landowners with wetland conservation in the south,” said Ken Babcock, director of operations at DU’s Southern Regional Office. “Senator Cochran’s long-standing support for the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill is a great first step.”
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).
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