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RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Aug. 28, 2025 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) CEO Adam Putnam announced a major expansion of the Alaska Born to Fly Initiative at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association’s annual conference in Anchorage this week.

This bold effort will focus on conserving the most important waterfowl production area in the Pacific Flyway, and will seek collaborative partnerships with industry leaders, Native peoples and public agencies.

“Ducks Unlimited is proud to be a conservation organization that gets things done through partnerships, and our history of working with the oil and gas industry is proof of that,” Putnam said. “The Alaska Born to Fly Initiative is not just an investment in waterfowl habitat, it’s an investment in the future of Alaska’s landscapes, people and wildlife.”

Alaska: An Unparalleled Haven for Waterfowl
DU has long recognized Alaska as a critical piece of the continental waterfowl puzzle. It is one of only four regions designated by DU as a Level I waterfowl breeding area, the highest priority classification in North America. Alaska produces more than a third of all ducks and half of all geese harvested in the Pacific Flyway, earning its reputation as the waterfowl factory of the West.

Though rich in resources and habitat, some waterfowl populations appear to be declining, along with changing wetland conditions in areas like the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and the Yukon Flats. These shifts affect not only recreational hunters but also rural and Native communities.

“Sixty percent of the nation’s wetlands are in Alaska,” Putnam said. “Understanding how those wetlands are changing, and what that means for wildlife and people, is a responsibility we all share, and one DU is prepared to tackle.”

A Conservation Approach Built on Collaboration
The Alaska Born to Fly Initiative will build on DU’s past conservation work in the state. From supporting waterfowl surveys and banding operations to using innovative technology to understand wetland change, this initiative will elevate DU’s conservation and science investments in the Last Frontier.

DU is also expanding its footprint in Alaska by hiring full-time conservation staff, beginning with a biologist based in-state with local experience. The Initiative will include long-term wetland monitoring, support for responsible development through science-based best management practices and strategic efforts to maintain and improve hunting and outdoor access.

“Our track record shows that when we work together, conservation wins,” Putnam said. “In Alaska, we’re ready to partner in ways that sustain not just wildlife, but the communities and industries that depend on these lands and waters.”

Please visit the new DU Media Toolkit page for essential resources about Ducks Unlimited’s conservation mission.

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 19 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. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent capital campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
 
Media Contact:
Molly Jarone
(916) 903-9199
mjarone@ducks.org