Sharing the responsibility and rewards of waterfowl habitat conservation

Bound by geography, Canada, the United States and Mexico share many common issues. Despite the obstacles that our invisible political boundaries sometimes put in the way, conservation continues to be an area of goodwill, collaboration and success among our countries. It involves vision, partnership and an unwavering commitment to doing the best we can for the resources we share.

The Ducks Unlimited international coalition has been championing this cross-border conservation model for more than 80 years. We believe in sharing the responsibility and the rewards—and our results speak for themselves.

15 million acres…and counting

Ducks Unlimited organizations operate independently in Canada, the United States and Mexico. But we are united by a shared mission to safeguard wetlands and other natural habitat for North America’s waterfowl.

To date, our collective efforts have conserved 15 million acres of critical habitat across the continent. These wetlands, grasslands and forests stretch across vast and varied landscapes, from the boreal region of Canada’s north to the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

We’ve learned that the best way to support North America’s migratory birds is to work as they do, by banding together and linking our efforts from one end of the continent to the other.

Following the science: Ducks Unlimited’s International Conservation Plan

Time and money available for wetland conservation are limited, which makes it imperative to invest our resources in ways that generate the greatest returns.

By compiling the best available science, Ducks Unlimited organizations created the International Conservation Plan to identify the most important conservation investments needed to ensure North America’s waterfowl have what they need to thrive. It considers factors such as waterfowl abundance, landscape capacity, habitat threats and the costs of conservation. Learn more about how this model is informing our conservation decisions.

Supporting the North American Waterfowl Management Plan

Recognized as one of the most successful conservation models in the world, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) brings together federal, provincial/state and municipal governments, non-government organizations, private companies and many individuals. All are committed to safeguarding the birds and habitat central to our continent’s natural legacy.

Ducks Unlimited organizations are proud to be closely associated with the NAWMP, sharing our knowledge and expertise to determine the most effective ways of delivering wetland conservation across international borders.

Our work for waterfowl is working

A recent study published in the journal Science reported that waterfowl were among the few groups of birds that have shown an increasing trend in the past 50 years. Similar findings were reported in the State of Canada’s Birds report, which states that geese and duck populations have increased by 360 per cent and 150 per cent, respectively, since 1970. This is a testament to the effectiveness of
international conservation action.

United in conservation

Today, DUC’s collaborative, cross-border relationships are stronger than ever. This includes relationships with our Ducks Unlimited colleagues in the United States and Mexico, federal and state governments, Indigenous Peoples, as well as nongovernment organizations and private individuals. We’re united in a common pursuit of conservation and our results connect people across an entire continent who reap the significant and wide-ranging benefits of healthy, abundant wetlands.