MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Jan. 8, 2015 - Ducks Unlimited is proud to announce the successful conservation of more than 5 million acres of vital waterfowl habitat in the United States. It's a conservation milestone 30 years in the making.

In 1984, Ducks Unlimited launched its U.S. habitat program, which was a logical extension of DU's longstanding mission to conserve and enhance North America's most important wetlands to waterfowl. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world's largest and most effective private, nonprofit waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to deliver its work through partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.

"Ducks Unlimited's mission of wetlands conservation continues to be driven by science to deliver the best possible outcomes for waterfowl in the highest priority landscapes," said DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt. "Our team is proud of what we have accomplished and we look forward to conserving the next 5 million acres as efficiently and effectively as the last."

Conserved acres are habitat Ducks Unlimited, with its thousands of partners, has protected, restored, enhanced or managed for waterfowl. DU considers habitat conserved if it is under an agreement that lasts at least 10 years or is owned by a public agency that assures its long-term dedication to wildlife.

DU restores or enhances habitat using direct management practices such as improving water control and hydrology or establishing native vegetation. Although DU often protects and restores or enhances the same land multiple times, those acres are only counted once.

"This monumental conservation milestone would not have been possible without the continued help and support of our state and federal agency, corporate and volunteer partners in the United States, Canada and Mexico," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "This is another important step to fulfill Ducks Unlimited's vision for wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. It's always great to celebrate an achievement like this, but we have much more work to do in the United States and across the continent."

Continentally, more than 13 million acres have been conserved in the United States, Canada and Mexico, thanks to the contributions of Ducks Unlimited's millions of supporters.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.

Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
(901) 758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org