Shell Oil Contributes Half-Million to Gulf Coast Restoration

LAFAYETTE, La. May 25, 2011 – Shell Oil Company recently donated $250,000 to Ducks Unlimited, reaching the half-million dollar mark in their support of DU’s ongoing efforts to protect and restore rapidly disappearing coastal wetland habitats in Louisiana.

“The Gulf Coast has long been a top priority for Ducks Unlimited,” Bob Dew, DU manager of conservation programs in Louisiana, said. “Louisiana’s coastal habitat is essential to sustaining North American waterfowl populations, and the area remains an important part of North America’s waterfowling heritage.”

The Louisiana coast is the most important region for wintering waterfowl in North America. It provides continentally significant winter habitat for more than 10 million waterfowl and multitudes of other migratory birds and wetland-dependent wildlife.

“Much of Louisiana’s coastal habitat has degraded over time, and the science tells us the loss of habitat is limiting the number of waterfowl the coast can support today,” Dew said. “The only way to meet the needs of waterfowl tomorrow is through habitat restoration.”

Shell Oil Company’s second $250,000 contribution will support all three aspects of DU’s habitat conservation approach – science, policy and direct habitat delivery programs.

“Ducks Unlimited is recognized as the leader in wetlands conservation due to its ability to forge diverse partnerships and deliver significant wetlands conservation,” Claude Griffin, Shell Oil Company’s social investment program manager for the environment, said. “We are proud to continue to support all three avenues of DU’s road to the ultimate goal of a sustainable coastal ecosystem.”

Ducks Unlimited 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 12 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.