MONTGOMERY, Ala., Mar. 27, 2006 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) awarded the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (ADWFF) with the Gold State Grant Award at the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, in Columbus, Ohio. This year the ADWFF’s contribution surpassed the $1,000,000 mark and punctuates a 25 year partnership with DU to conserve waterfowl and wetlands habitat in Canada.

Director Corky Pugh (left) receives Gold State Grant Award from Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young on behalf of Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (ADWFF).

“It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and the waterfowl hunters of our state,” said ADWFF Director Corky Pugh. “Improving waterfowl habitat conservation in Canada is critical to maintaining robust waterfowl populations in Alabama.”

Each year during a special awards breakfast at the conference, DU proudly recognizes state agency partners who have reached significant milestones in their contributions to conserve waterfowl breeding habitat in critical areas of Canada.

DU developed the state grant partnership program in 1965 to aid conservation of waterfowl breeding habitat in Canada. As part of the partnership DU matches contributions from state fish and wildlife agencies. DU then uses the combined amount to secure federal funds available under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), which effectively quadruples the states’ contribution.

"We are proud of the success of this program and state agencies like the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries continue to have significant and positive influences on North America's waterfowl habitats," said DU’s Southern Region Director of Public Policy Ross Melinchuk. "This money helps protect critical waterfowl breeding grounds in Canada. It is both a privilege and a pleasure to recognize such an outstanding partner in conservation."

Presently, the state partnership program supports conservation of migratory bird habitats on an international scale. With the passage of NAWCA in 1989, contributions from state agencies have had greater impact because state and DU funds are matched with federal funds that are used for long-term habitat restoration projects throughout North America.

To date, NAWCA has helped fund more than 1,400 projects on more than 20 million acres in all 50 states, every province of Canada and areas of Mexico. Thousands of partners, including private landowners, corporations and state governments have worked together to conserve wildlife habitat through NAWCA grants.



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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