Ducks Unlimited Partners with New South for Wetland Protection

One of Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) newest partners, New South Access and Environmental Solutions, could offer on-the-ground wetland projects even more protection. New South is the world’s leading environmental access company creating safe right-of-ways to environmentally sensitive areas.

By using the emtek Wetland Access System (EWAS), New South logistic crews create a temporary pathway to work sites without disrupting the natural habitat. Crews lay mats to form a temporary roadway, never impacting the wetland. EWAS floats on vegetative wetlands leaving a footprint of only 3.5 psi – approximately half of that of a human footprint. This avoids unnecessary damage to wetlands and leaves the ecosystem intact. The EWAS does not restrict water flow, protecting the marsh plant and animal life.

“We are proud to have New South on board as one of our newest partners,” said Jim Alexander, DU’s senior director of corporate relations. “This partnership will provide wetlands engineers a new tool to use when needed on projects across North America.”

The conventional method of creating a right-of-way through a wetland is stacking traditional wood or composite mats. This process can compact soils, disrupt the wetland vegetation and crush root systems causing permanent damage to the wetland. By using the EWAS system, however, site workers have a roadway that does not damage sensitive wetland plants and vegetation.

“It’s only natural that the leader in wetland access and protection, New South, and the leader in wetlands conservation, Ducks Unlimited, would join forces through partnership,” said Drew St. John II, New South’s CEO. “Our alignment with Ducks Unlimited brings validity and prestige to our focus on reducing wetland loss and negative impacts to wetlands.”

For more information, visit www.newsouthmat.com.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.