Ducks Unlimited applauds House Natural Resources Committee for approving improvements to North American Wetlands Conservation Act

WASHINGTON – Sept. 30, 2009 – Scott Sutherland, director of Ducks Unlimited's Governmental Affairs Office, issued a statement today in response to the House Natural Resources Committee passing H.R. 3433, a bill to enhance the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The statement reads as follows:

"The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is one of the most successful conservation programs in history – and the improvements the committee approved today continue that tradition. By expanding the funding sources available to match federal grants, as this bill does, critical wetlands and waterfowl habitat can more efficiently be conserved for benefit of people and wildlife.

"This program has already conserved nearly 25 million acres of wetlands across North America, and has invested just over $1 billion in federal grants to leverage more than $3 billion in partner funds for wetland and associated upland conservation projects. Enhancing the program will build on that success for the future.

"Ducks Unlimited would like to thank Congressman Rob Wittman for introducing this bill. We look forward to working with members of the House and Senate to see this bill through to the President's desk."

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