NEW ORLEANS – Oct. 15, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited First Vice President John Newman met with a senior Obama administration official today to discuss coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast. Newman met with Nancy Sutley, the chair of the President's Council on Environmental Quality, which advises the president on environmental issues.

"We are glad the administration is prioritizing and nationalizing the critical plight of Louisiana's coastal wetlands, and the important role that groups like Ducks Unlimited play in their restoration. We are happy to be part of the discussion," said Newman. "Ducks Unlimited has completed small-to-moderate-scale restoration work on the Gulf Coast for decades, including building wetland terraces in degraded marshes, but a much larger national effort is needed."

Ducks Unlimited's history of restoration projects on the Louisiana Gulf Coast was bolstered after completing a $15 million pledge to restore or enhance 52,000 acres wetlands. Coastal restoration is a top conservation priority DU because the Louisiana Gulf Coast may winter up to 9.2 million waterfowl, including large portions of the continental population of gadwalls, greenwing teal, northern pintails and mottled ducks.

"Restoring the Gulf Coast is important for more than just Louisiana and Mississippi," said Ken Babcock, senior director of conservation for Ducks Unlimited. Babcock also sits on the Louisiana Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation.

"It is critical for protecting the port infrastructure that transports goods originating from throughout the interior United States, from Peoria to Pittsburgh," said Babcock. Coastal wetlands also protect oil and gas infrastructure. It is estimated that one quarter of the oil and gas consumed by American homes and businesses are at risk without large scale restoration of the Gulf Coast.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest, most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization and has conserved more than 12 million acres. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands – nature's most productive ecosystem – and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.

Neil Shader
nshader@ducks.org
202.347.1530