The Model For Getting Things Done
By Jim Foster
Today looking over the specialty conservation organizations, one stands out as the model for many of the rest. That group is Ducks Unlimited.
Beginning in the 1930’s DU has fine tuned it’s programs and meetings to allow multi-million dollars projects all across the United States and Canada and created fund raising formula for others to follow. Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Quail Unlimited, to name a few.
During the dust bowl of the 1930s, drought wreaked havoc on North America's waterfowl populations, turning the birds' northern breeding grounds into dry basins. Waterfowl numbers dwindled, and a small group of sportsmen called the More Game Birds in America Foundation decided to take action.
In 1935, the group conducted the International Wild Duck Census, the first aerial survey of Canada's breeding grounds. Based on the results, the Foundation initiated a program in 1937 to restore and improve the drought-parched prairies of Canada. They dubbed the program Ducks Unlimited, incorporated it that same year, and aimed to complete DU's work in five years at a cost of $3 million.
Ducks Unlimited has now conserved 10 million acres of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
"Ten million acres is an impressive number," says DU Chief Biologist Bruce Batt, "especially considering that only includes the acres DU worked on. Millions of additional acres have been impacted through public policies that DU supports, many DU members have restored wetlands on their own property, thousands of farmers flood their fields annually for waterfowl, and I could go on."
To appreciate the significance of conserving 10 million acres, one must first appreciate the size of that much land. Ten million acres could accommodate Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, with 368,000 acres to spare. To conserve 10 million acres over 65 years requires conserving more than 421 acres per day.
While attending the Outdoor Writers of America conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan Ducks Unlimited invited a group of writers to a dinner held at Pine Hill, a shooting resort and the home of an ongoing DU project. Owner Jim Rypkema was our gracious host and DU had arranged to have many of their project leaders, biologists, and DU Chapter members on hand for interviews and questions. He also showed us around the place and the results of his efforts were obvious.
As a waterfowl hunter I have been impressed with the work DU does in working with wetlands and waterfowl habitat.
For more information about DU or to find the dates of their many banquets go to; http://www.ducks.org/
If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com
