North American Wetlands Conservation Act

NAWCA is a federal program that awards competitive grants for wetlands conservation projects. It has conserved 30 million acres of habitat, benefiting the ducks and geese you see in the field.  These projects are critical for maintaining waterfowl populations and the critical wetland ecosystems they depend on.

NAWCA Overview

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act conserves North America's waterfowl, fish and wildlife resources while producing a variety of environmental, economic, and community benefits. Its success is driven by partnerships involving federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations like DU, corporations, foundations, and community groups. This program represents a sound investment of limited federal dollars as each must be matched at least one-to-one but funds are often doubled or tripled at the local level. In fact, NAWCA grants totaling more than $2.1 billion have leveraged over $4.3 billion for NAWCA projects through matching funds.

Since 1991, more than $7.2 billion in funding has advanced the conservation of wetland habitats and their wildlife across more than 33.1 million acres of habitat in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, while engaging more than 7,100 partners in more than 3,400 projects.

NAWCA History

NAWCA was enacted more than 30 years ago to provide federal cost-share funding to support the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international agreement that provides a strategy for the long-term protection of wetlands and associated upland habitats needed by waterfowl and other migratory birds in North America.

NAWCA is a non-regulatory, incentive-based, voluntary wildlife conservation program. NAWCA stimulates public-private partnerships to protect, restore, and enhance wetland habitats for a diversity of migratory birds and other wildlife. NAWCA partnership grants play an important role in meeting DU’s mission. Examples include restoring wetlands that have been altered, acquiring property that serves as critical wildlife habitat and protecting it from development hydrological improvements to wetlands to provide appropriate water conditions for wildlife, and reducing soil erosion and the likelihood of floods. Wetland conservation through NAWCA grants often also provide societal benefits such as improvements to water and air quality and the recharging of aquifers that serve as a source of ground water. In addition, many projects provide outstanding recreational opportunities, from bird watching to hunting.

NAWCA provides grant funds for wetlands conservation projects in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Every dollar of federal money allotted to NAWCA must be matched by a dollar or more from non-federal sources provided by organizations like DU, local governments, and/or state fish and wildlife agencies. Because this program is so effective, funds are often doubled or tripled at the local level. Funds from U.S. Federal sources may contribute towards a project, but are not eligible as a match.

In Washington, D.C., the Ducks Unlimited Government Affairs staff works with Congress in support of annual funding and the reauthorization of NAWCA to keep building on the Act's waterfowl conservation success.

To date, NAWCA has helped fund more than 3,300 projects on almost 32.6 million acres in all 50 states, areas of Canada and areas of Mexico. More than 7000 partners, including private landowners, industry and state governments have worked together to conserve wildlife habitat through NAWCA grants.

Want to Support NAWCA Funding?

If you want to protect the future of America’s wetlands and waterfowl, support NAWCA funding by:

1. Urging your U.S. Representative and Senators to support NAWCA funding by signing our Dear Colleague Letter
2. Submitting your name to tell your U.S. Representative and Senators to support NAWCA appropriations
3. Signing up to become a #DuckPolicy Insider