The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently awarded two grants totaling $1.5 million to Ducks Unlimited (DU) for projects in Kansas and Iowa through its Conservation Partners Program (CPP), an initiative that leverages grant money with matching contributions to fund conservation-focused endeavors.
The grants, which were part of an $8.7 million award to eight states, will help generate an additional $6.4 million in matching contributions for a total of $15.1 million earmarked specifically to support voluntary conservation practices on agricultural and ranching lands in the Midwest and West.
“Across the country, private landowners help safeguard some of the most valuable fish and wildlife habitats through active stewardship and conservation,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These awards reinforce a shared commitment to voluntary stewardship, and to supporting landowners and producers as they sustain agricultural productivity, keep working lands working, and conserve working landscapes for wildlife.
Collectively, the grants will support technical assistance to help producers implement sustainable practices, such as cover crop planting, soil health education, and grazing management, that will improve irrigation and enhance riparian habitat. The result will put 1,900 management plans into effect and improve more than 490,000 acres.
"Done correctly, conservation-minded ag practices can provide a boon for wildlife and landscape and improve a producer’s bottom line at the same time,” says DU’s Kansas Manager of Conservation Programs Matthew Hough. “Thanks to the NFWF grants and matching funds, we’ll be able to continue financially supporting farmers and ranchers through the learning curve and implementation process some of our programs require.”
For a full list of the projects receiving CPP funding, visit the NFWF website here.
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 comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
