April 2001
Ducks Unlimited Works with Landowners to Conserve the Environment
by Brad Jones
When it comes to wildlife conservation, Ducks Unlimited Canada does what big government and radical environmentalist groups cannot. It puts philosophy and politics aside and gets the job done.
The organization has 150,000 supporters from coast to coast, including cattle and grain farmers, environmentalists, eco-tourists, outdoor enthusiasts, sport hunters, and fishermen. Ducks Unlimited (DU) has a nation-wide team of staff biologists, agrologists, researchers, volunteers, and communications specialists, who work with government agencies and various other conservation groups.
The non-profit company's success lies in its knack for achieving sustainable development. Its members understand that agriculture, forestry, and other basic industries are important to the Canadian economy, and that with proper management, our natural resources—including wildlife—can be harvested without being squandered.
An example of DU's commitment toward achieving sustainable development is evident in the western boreal forest, a waterfowl-breeding area located in the vast and resource rich landscape that spans 2.6 million square kilometres across Western Canada. DU created the Western Boreal Forest Initiative (WBFI) in 1997 to address wetland habitat conservation issues in the remote region, which serves as the annual breeding grounds for more than 13 million ducks.
Gary Stewart, manager of conservation programs for DU's Western Boreal Regions, asserts that the broad forest, which cuts a swath across Western Canada from Northwestern Ontario to Alaska, represents an area second only to the Prairies in terms of its continental importance to migratory waterbirds.
The key to DU's work is determining the influences of the lakes and wetlands of the forest. According to Stewart, "DU has identified the western boreal forest as one of the highest priority landscapes in North America... We realize the importance of determining what affects specific wetlands or wetlands types and also influences the productivity of these sites. Our science-based conservation programs include protection of critical areas and also help progressive industries achieve sustainable development."
Upon request by Ontario's Walkerton Inquiry, Ducks Unlimited has submitted a report outlining the importance of watershed management in improving water quality and quantity. This Freshwater Initiative in Eastern Canada, conducted by DU's research arm, the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research (IWWR), is already in place in Western Canada. It identifies and addresses knowledge gaps in the role of wetlands related to fresh water.
The IWWR evaluates existing resource management programs, guides program development, and identifies areas where changes can be made to increase DU's effectiveness. It brings a scientific approach to the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl to DU's three North American organizations: Ducks Unlimited Canada, Ducks Unlimited Inc. in the United States, and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico. IWWR conducts independent research or partners with other conservation organizations, universities, and agencies in joint programs.
For instance, DU has teamed up with six research partners in Canada and the United States to research the management of avian botulism, a paralyzing toxin responsible for wiping out millions of waterbirds on Prairie wetlands. This three-year research program is scheduled to wrap up this year.
Over 19,000 private landowners have established a working relationship with Ducks Unlimited, which practices land use management to provide farmers with economical and sustainable options. DU works closely with landowners to implement programs such as wetland conservation agreements, grassland restoration, rotational grazing and off-site watering systems. These are land use alternatives that can improve soil quality and livestock weight gain and overall health— components of the producer's bottom line. By restoring marginal croplands to grassland and keeping livestock from grazing and watering near riverbanks and marshes, producers can curb soil erosion, boost water quality for animals and people, and protect vital upland cover for waterfowl and other wildlife.
Brian Gray, Ducks Unlimited Canada's director of conservation programs, argues that private landowners are the stewards of the land. Improved water quality and other benefits associated with conservation on farmlands extend beyond farmers to society as a whole.
Ducks Unlimited is legally recognized as an organization that can enter into conservation easements with private landowners. Under these agreements, DU leases land and works with landowners to set the terms for land cover and drainage. Conservation easements are a way for landowners to conserve the natural features on their land for a specified period of time or in perpetuity.
DU's youth programs provide fun, hands-on educational outdoor adventures for children, instilling in them an appreciation for wetlands and wildlife. Approximately 22,000 young Canadians are a part of DU's Adopt-a-Class and Greenwing youth education programs.
In British Columbia's Fraser River Delta, agriculture land is important wildlife habitat. Over the centuries, the natural floodplain has been transformed by urbanization, industrial development, and agriculture. By 1987, more than 97 percent of the natural floodplain habitat was gone. Land that has remained in traditional soil-based agriculture provides essential habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl that once relied on the natural floodplain. Ducks Unlimited estimates that if current trends in land transition away from soil-based agriculture continue, these farmlands will be gone within 25 years. More importantly, the ability of this landscape to support waterfowl may cease far sooner due to potential effects of fragmenting the farmland landscape into smaller and smaller areas interspersed with urban and industry development. With a long-range vision in mind, DU and its partners are working with farmers in the area to develop on-farm plans that will meet the needs of waterfowl, other wildlife and agriculture.
Since Ducks Unlimited built its first dam at Big Grass Marsh near Gladstone, Manitoba more than 60 years ago, it has emerged as one of Canada's most respected conservation agencies. While the non-profit organization receives some government funding, it does not drain taxpayers' wallets, relying instead on millions of dollars in private donations from its Canadian, American, and international members to fund its thousands of wetlands conservation and restoration projects across the country.
The conservation group hosts hundreds of fund-raising banquets showcasing the work of wildlife artists. Limited prints, outdoor wear, rustic decorative home furnishings and handcrafted wooden waterfowl carvings are up for auction along with a wide array of high-quality signature merchandise.
DU prides itself on its independence. Rather than lobbying government for heavy-handed legislation and relying heavily on public money, the organization is committed to finding private sector solutions and funding, including personal, small business, and corporate sponsorship. The cornerstone of Duck's Unlimited Canada's success in conserving waterfowl and other wildlife habitat is in its ability to work with—not against—private landowners.
Brad Jones is a freelance writer for Ducks Unlimited Canada's national magazine Conservator and other DU publications. For more information about Ducks Unlimited Canada or any of its habitat programs and publications, visit their web site: www.ducks.ca or call 1-800-665-DUCK.
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