The mainland West Coast of Mexico contains several important areas for waterfowl. These habitats consist of tidal estuaries connected with brackish water marshes along the coast and inland fresh water wetlands and reservoirs. The wetlands of Mexico provide critical wintering habitat for waterbirds from across North America. Concern about the loss of waterfowl habitats south of the border led to the creation of Ducks Unlimited de Mexico (DUMAC) in 1974. The first organization of its kind established in Mexico, DUMAC pioneered efforts to conserve the nation's wetlands and wildlife, and, today, is the country's leading nongovernmental wetlands conservation organization.
Importance to waterfowl
- According to surveys conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mexico supports more than 15 percent of the continent's ducks and geese during the fall and winter months.
- The coastal and interior wetlands in the state of Sinaloa support 22.5 percent of the migratory waterfowl that winter in Mexico.
Habitat issues
These wetlands and their wildlife are currently threatened by intensive agriculture, pollution and development by the shrimp industry. - The wetlands of Mexico face many threats as a rapidly growing human population fuels an ever-increasing demand for food, fresh water and living space.
- Rapid expansion of agriculture, industry and urban sprawl claims thousands of acres of wetlands and associated uplands in the country each year.
DU's conservation focus
- DUMAC delivers on-the-ground wetland conservation projects in cooperation with many government agencies, foundations, corporations, other conservation organizations and private landowners.
- DUMAC also has been instrumental in mapping and classifying Mexico's most important wetland systems and supports a variety of research, evaluation and monitoring of the nation's waterfowl and their habitats.
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