Ducks Unlimited and Wildlife Habitat Council partner on effort
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2007— Ducks Unlimited is partnering with the Wildlife Habitat Council to create the Wings Over Wetlands award. The new award will recognize companies that protect and manage wetlands for waterfowl across North America. The United States alone loses more than 80,000 acres of wetland habitat annually.
“Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people,” said Scott Sutherland, director of DU’s Governmental Affairs Office. “We are excited about the opportunity to jointly offer the Wings Over Wetlands award with the Wildlife Habitat Council. We look forward to honoring those who have shown exceptional dedication to wetland and waterfowl conservation.”
The award was created to encourage increased corporate participation in wetland stewardship and recognize companies that create and protect wetland habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds.
Wetlands conservation and restoration are two of the most productive efforts a corporate habitat program can undertake. These projects benefit waterfowl, plants, amphibians and other wildlife species.
“Wetlands are a key link to waterfowl conservation, as well as watershed management. This award is an important opportunity to emphasize the importance of wetlands restoration projects on private lands,” Wildlife Habitat Council President Robert Johnson said. “We are pleased to work with Ducks Unlimited, a long-time partner for two decades, and our members to preserve and enhance wetlands and waterfowl populations.”
Wildlife Habitat Council certified programs with wetland initiatives are encouraged to apply for the award. The primary criteria include the wetland’s value to wildlife and the corporate team’s commitment to wetland stewardship. The project does not have to be on corporate property. But it must involve active corporate participation through several avenues, such as volunteers, financial support above mitigation requirements and/or education and outreach.
Ducks Unlimited will present this prestigious award during the Wildlife Habitat Council’s annual symposium in Baltimore, Md., November 12-13, 2007.
Celebrating 20 years in conservation, the Wildlife Habitat Council is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 48 states, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. For more information, visit WHC online at www.wildlifehc.org.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization. In its 70-year history, DU working in partnership has conserved over 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 each year. www.ducks.org
For more information about Wings Over Wetlands, please visit http://www.wildlifehc.org/awards/wingsoverwetlands.cfm.
Award applications are available at: http://www.wildlifehc.org/ewebeditpro/items/O57F12069.pdf
Contacts:
Rachel Dawson, Ducks Unlimited
202-347-1530, rdawson@ducks.org
Vanessa Kauffman, Wildlife Habitat Council
301-588-8994, vkauffman@wildlifehc.org