House Subcommittee Approves NAWCA Funding

Ducks Unlimited (DU) appreciates the funding of more than $34 million for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) provided by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in their bill. The approval maintains funding levels on par with FY14.

“We’d like to thank Chairman Calvert (CA) and Ranking Member Moran (VA) for providing more than $34 million for NAWCA in its FY15 subcommittee bill,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “While this is level funding with FY14, it clearly demonstrates a renewed commitment to this vital program that delivers wetland conservation on the ground for waterfowl, other wildlife and our citizens.”

Since 1990, more than 5,000 partners have completed more than 2,400 NAWCA projects resulting in the conservation of 27.5 million acres of habitat on the ground. Reflecting their commitment to these vital habitat projects, partners have contributed $2.7 billion in non-federal matching funds for the nearly $1.3 billion made available in federal grants. NAWCA creates and enhances wetland habitat that serves as vital breeding, migratory and wintering grounds for millions of waterfowl throughout their life cycle. With appropriate funding for this program, the public will benefit for years from healthy waterfowl populations and increased hunting opportunities.

“Wetlands are not only important to wildlife, but also provide significant goods and services to our citizens in the form of flood control, purification of drinking water through their filtering function and buffering of coastal storm surges,  in addition to providing hunting and other recreational opportunities,” Hall said.

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.