MEMPHIS, Tenn. – May 30, 2026 – Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) today announced the historic close of “Conservation For A Continent. Our Wetlands. Our Legacy.”, the most ambitious conservation campaign ever undertaken on behalf of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl.
At DU’s 89th Annual National Convention in Tampa, Florida, officials from DU Inc., DU Canada, DU de Mexico, and Wetlands America Trust (WAT) enthusiastically revealed that the comprehensive campaign generated an unprecedented $4.06 billion for continental conservation. More than 2 million contributors powered the campaign over its seven-year period.
“This campaign is the culmination of thousands of acts of generosity, passion, and commitment to something larger than ourselves by our volunteers and contributors,” said Mike Benge, campaign chair. “Every volunteer hour invested, every dollar raised, and every acre conserved is a direct reflection of what our supporters believe: that wetlands are worth fighting for, and that together, we can protect them for generations to come.”
Launched in 2019, “Conservation For A Continent” set an audacious goal of securing $3 billion in support of DU’s mission, a target that supporters ultimately surpassed. Building on the foundation of 15 million acres conserved in North America at the time of the campaign’s launch, the effort ultimately helped DU surpass 20 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat conserved since 1937, expanding DU’s conservation legacy to an extraordinary scale.
The $4.06 billion is being invested in landscape-level conservation across North America to safeguard breeding grounds, migration corridors, and wintering habitats that waterfowl and wildlife depend on.
“What our volunteers have accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. In a time when our nation’s wetlands and grasslands face enormous pressure, our donors and supporters stepped forward with generosity and conviction,” says DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Because of them, millions of acres will continue to filter our water, protect our communities, and provide habitats for hundreds of species, including the waterfowl that are central to our hunting traditions and heritage.”
The campaign’s impact spans North America, with investments focused on five core conservation priorities that are vital to the future of our wetlands, waterfowl, communities, and ecosystems:
- Breeding Landscapes Conservation: Campaign funds have protected and restored critical wetlands and associated habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region, Great Lakes, and Boreal Forest, places where the majority of the continent’s waterfowl are raised. These investments ensure future generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts will continue to experience the continent’s great waterfowl migrations.
- Migration and Wintering Landscapes Conservation: Investments in the Gulf Coast, Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Central Valley of California, and Atlantic Coast have strengthened the migratory pathways that millions of birds travel each year. These vital landscapes now stand better protected, ensuring waterfowl complete their journeys in prime condition.
- Conservation Research and Education: Campaign investments have expanded DU’s scientific capacity and accelerated the development of cutting-edge research tools that guide habitat conservation on a continental scale. This priority has also fueled programs to inspire, educate, and train the next generation of conservation professionals.
- Wetlands Forever: Although wetlands cover only six percent of the Earth’s surface, they support 40 percent of all plant and animal species. This priority has funded volunteer programs and mission-focused projects in areas of greatest need, mobilizing communities to act as stewards of these irreplaceable ecosystems.
- Conservation Legacy: Generous gifts to DU’s endowment through this campaign have secured a financial foundation that will sustain conservation work for decades to come; a true living legacy for wetlands, waterfowl, and the communities that depend on them.
From grassroots fundraising banquets in small towns to major philanthropic gifts from conservation-minded individuals and organizations, every contribution played an essential role in the campaign's unprecedented success. During the campaign period, DU has surpassed 20 million acres conserved since 1937, and has recorded more than one million acres of conservation for three straight years.
“This is one of the single greatest fundraising achievements in the history of landscape conservation,” said Ducks Unlimited President Bob Spoerl. “To set a goal that was already the most ambitious our organization had ever attempted, and then blow past our goal, speaks volumes to the passion and commitment of our supporters who recognize the urgency to protect these vital landscapes.”
DU’s conserved acres also represent a remarkable portfolio of ecosystem services, delivering quantifiable benefits that extend far past the landscapes that we protect. Among the most notable, DU and Ducks Unlimited Canada have helped conserve over 26 trillion gallons of water across landscapes since 1937. These landmark milestones stand as a testament to the dedication of DU’s volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters who made this vision a reality.
As DU closes this landmark chapter, “Conservation For A Continent. Our Wetlands. Our Legacy.” demonstrates that the conservation community’s capacity to deliver results for wetlands and waterfowl knows no limits. The dollars raised and acres conserved are not just numbers; they are supporting living landscapes that will sustain waterfowl and wildlife, provide clean water and flood protection for communities, and offer outdoor experiences for hunters and nature enthusiasts for generations to come.
Media Contact
KayLeigh Mitchell
Sustainability Communications Coordinator
Memphis, TN
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands, and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife, and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
