Ducks Unlimited

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Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited (DU) is an international (United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia ), membership organization founded during the depression years in the United States by a group of sportsmen interested in waterfowl conservation . DU was incorporated in early 1937, and DU (Canada) was established later that spring. The organization was established to preserve and maintain waterfowl populations through habitat protection and development, primarily to provide game for sport hunting . During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the founding members of DU recognized that most of the continental waterfowl populations were maintained by breeding habitat in the wetlands of Canada's southern prairies in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. The organizers established DU Canada and used their resources to protect the Canadian prairie breeding grounds. Cross-border funding has since been a fundamental component of DU's operation, although in recent years funds also have been directed to the northern American prairie states. In 1974 Ducks Unlimited de Mexico was established to restore and maintain wetlands south of the U.S.-Mexican border where many waterfowl spend the winter months.

Throughout most of its existence, DU has funded habitat restoration projects and worked with landowners to provide water management benefits on farmlands. But, from its inception DU has been subject to criticism. Early opponents characterized it as an American intrusion into Canada to secure hunting areas. More recently, critics have suggested that DU defines waterfowl habitat too narrowly, excluding upland areas where many ducks and geese nest. The group plans to broaden its focus to encompass preservation of these upland breeding and nesting areas. Since many of these areas are found on private land, DU also plans to expand its cooperative programs with farmers and ranchers. Most commonly, however, DU is criticized for placing the interests of waterfowl hunters above wildlife management concerns. The organization does allow duck hunting on its preserves.

Following the fundamental principle of "users pay," duck hunters still provide the majority of DU's funding. For that reason DU has not addressed some issues that have a serious effect on continental waterfowl populations. The combination of illegal hunting and liberal bag limits is blamed by some for the continued decline in waterfowl numbers. DU has not addressed this issue, preferring to leave management issues to government agencies in the United States and Canada, while focusing on habitat preservation and restoration. Critics of DU suggest that the organization will not act on population matters and risk offending the hunters who provide their financial support.

In North America DU has expanded its scope and activities to address ecological and land use problems through the work of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Prairie CARE (Conservation of Agriculture, Resources and Environment ) program. The wetlands conservation and other habitat projects addressed in these and similar programs, not only benefit game species , but other endangered species of plants and animals as well. NAWMP (an agreement between the United States and Canada) alone protects over 5.5 million acres (2.2 million ha) of waterfowl habitat. In 2002, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) granted the DU one million dollars to be put towards a new wetlands in Ohio.

On balance, DU has had a major, positive impact on North American waterfowl habitat and management. Millions of acres of wetlands have been protected, enhanced, and managed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. However, the continued decline in waterfowl populations may require the organization to redirect some of its efforts to population management and preservation issues.

[David A. Duffus ]