Ducks Unlimited addresses Congress about saving an endangered ecosystem

WASHINGTON – April 22, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young met with senior Senate leaders on Capitol Hill today to highlight the need to incorporate wildlife concerns into climate change legislation—especially in the endangered prairie ecosystem.

"Waterfowl and wildlife are canaries in the coal mine for climate change. Protecting our endangered habitats is critical to ensure future success not just for wildlife, but people too," said Young. "The prairies are one of the most diverse habitats in the country and are one of the best habitats to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide."

Young addressed Senate leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), Senate Majority Whip Sen. Richard Durbin (Ill.), Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee chair Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Sen. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa) and Sen. Russ Feingold (Wisc.), as well as other senators.

Approximately 22 million acres of native grassland prairie remain in the United States, and 3.3 million acres are likely to be lost to development over the next few years. Protection of the prairies has been identified as one solution to combating climate change. Each acre of prairie that is protected stores approximately 30-50 metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the emissions of 6-10 cars.

"Native grasslands contain thousands of species of plants and animals, including millions of waterfowl," said Young. "These grasslands also store millions of tons of carbon dioxide, and restoring grassland habitat would continue to capture more."

The ducks and geese that are reared on the prairies—often called America's "Duck Factory"—are an economic engine as well. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports that Americans spend more than $2 billion every year on hunting and travel associated with waterfowl.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. 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