Wings and Wetlands Initiative

Ducks Unlimited’s Wings and Wetlands Initiative is a bold, science-based response to this growing crisis, focused on protecting and restoring the region’s most critical landscapes.

Conservation Focus Areas

From the lush coastal marshes of Puget Sound to the flood-irrigated pastures of Eastern Oregon, the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most vital wetland habitats in North America. These landscapes—tidal wetlands, seasonal meadows, river floodplains, and working lands—are lifelines for millions of migrating birds. Priority areas like the Willamette Valley, Columbia Basin, Snake River floodplain, Oregon high desert, and Western Washington provide food, shelter, and safe passage for nearly one-third of all waterfowl traveling the Pacific Flyway each year. Protecting these natural strongholds is essential to keeping the Flyway thriving.

The Problem

The Northwest corner of the U.S—encompassing the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho—is an essential stopover for more than 17 million migrating waterfowl and countless other birds. However, with 60% of the region’s wetlands already lost or degraded, these critical habitats—and the clean water and healthy ecosystems they support—are disappearing. Protecting what remains is an urgent challenge, but with your support, Ducks Unlimited can help conserve these vital wetlands.

The Solution

Ducks Unlimited’s Wings and Wetlands Initiative is a bold, science-based response to this growing crisis, focused on protecting and restoring the region’s most critical landscapes.

By partnering with landowners and public agencies, DU delivers practical, lasting conservation solutions that support waterfowl, salmon, and hundreds of other species. These efforts also strengthen communities, sustain agriculture, and build climate resilience through improved working lands and restored natural ecosystems. In addition to providing wildlife habitat, wetlands deliver vital ecosystem services, such as clean water, flood protection, carbon storage, and recreational opportunities.

By restoring wetlands, we’re helping fish, wildlife, and communities thrive—now and for generations to come.

Get Involved

Conservation is a team effort, and Ducks Unlimited is leading the charge in wetlands conservation. Our dedicated donors, volunteers, and members drive our mission forward. By joining forces, we can ensure a brighter future for waterfowl, local communities, and the wildlife of the Northwest. Help us make this lasting change together.

Become a Volunteer

Partnership Goals

• Conserve Wetlands: Rebuild more than 32,000 acres of estuarine and freshwater wetlands to benefit birds, fish, and people.
• Support Working Lands: Partner with landowners to conserve 30,000 acres of wildlife-friendly agricultural lands through restoration, protection, and improved practices.
• Enhance Managed Wetlands: Upgrade infrastructure on 7,500 acres of public and private wetlands to ensure quality habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
• Advance Policy Solutions: Advocate for funding, streamlined permitting, and policies that support conservation, recreation access, and working landscapes.
• Invest in Science: Monitor outcomes and apply research to optimize wetland restoration, improve habitat for waterfowl and salmon, and increase climate resilience.