Washington, DC March 21, 2022 Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) was recently honored by Ducks Unlimited (DU) for receiving the Wetlands Conservation Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to conservation and restoration of North America's wetlands and waterfowl habitat.

Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of the 2022 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards recently during the 87th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Spokane, Washington.

DU's Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards are presented annually in six categories to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and restoration of North America's wetlands and waterfowl. Senator Heinrich received the award in the Senior Federal Official category.

"Every year we recognize outstanding professionals who share our passion for wetlands and waterfowl conservation," Ducks Unlimited Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop said. "DU relies on a network of talented individuals to achieve our wetland and waterfowl conservation goals. The winners demonstrate how people with a shared passion for wetlands, waterfowl and wildlife can achieve great things. DU is honored to recognize their work and we hope their achievements inspire others. It takes teamwork to ensure a bright future for our wetland resources. We are pleased to honor people who lead the way."

Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico has been a champion for conservation since arriving on Capitol Hill over a decade ago and has worked with Ducks Unlimited and others to deliver vitally important conservation policy. Senator Heinrich has built a reputation as a leader that can traverse the partisan divide of our current political landscape to generate effective and sustainable policy solutions to our most pressing issues.

"There is no question that Senator Heinrich is a champion for wetlands and wildlife," said DU Chief Policy Officer Zach Hartman. "Thanks to his leadership on once-in-a-generation conservation policy achievements, such as the ACE Act and the Great American Outdoors Act, all Americans will enjoy more wildlife habitat, more opportunities for outdoor recreation, cleaner water and more resilient communities. The impacts of his earnest commitment to conservation are felt not just in New Mexico, but across all of North America and there's no policymaker more deserving of this award than Senator Heinrich."

Senator Heinrich played a key role in the crafting and passage of the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act to the benefit of thousands of species of at-risk wildlife. The ACE Act reauthorized the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2025 for the first time since 2012 and increased authorized funding for the program to $60 million for each of Fiscal Years 2021 through 2025.

Since being signed into law on Oct. 30, 2020, the ACE Act represents one of the most substantial federal investments in conservation and wetland restoration in recent memory. As an active member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission and constant champion of important and effective conservation policy, as well as being an avid outdoorsman, Senator Heinrich epitomizes the spirit behind Ducks Unlimited's conservation mission.

"It means so much to me to receive this honor from Ducks Unlimitedan organization whose successful on-the-ground work I like to point to as one of our greatest examples of the North American conservation model. As a proud member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, I take real joy in seeing firsthand how DU's conservation work protects millions of acres of North America's wetlands and wildlife refuges. In recent years, DU has been an essential partner in the successful campaigns to pass the Dingell Act, the Great American Outdoors Act, and the ACE Act into law. I was especially proud to work with DU to champion a long-term reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. I look forward to working with DU members in the final push to pass the Recovering America's Wildlife Act to treat all of our wildlife with the same resources and focus that Ducks Unlimited has provided to our wetlands and waterfowl habitat."

To view a complete list of the 2022 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award winners, visit www.ducks.org/wetlandawards.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world 's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Parker Williams
(202) 621-1646
pwilliams@ducks.org