Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is an international non profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. DU began in 1937 in both the US and Canada as a result of the dedication of influential business people concerned about the loss of wetlands as habitat for waterfowl and the impact this would have on waterfowl hunting. Today DU partners with a wide range of corporations, governments, other NGO's, land owners, and private citizens to restore and manage areas that have been damaged and to prevent further degradation of existing wetlands. By its efforts DU attempts to benefit biodiversity, water quality, the environment, and the economy in the areas in which it is active. DU's main focus is and always has been been wetland conservation for the benefit of the environment, wildlife, and humans, including both hunters and non-hunters. DU's headquarters in the United States is located at Memphis, TN and in Canada at the Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre near Winnipeg, MB. DU is also active in Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia.

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) facts

• DUC has been conserving wetland habitats in Canada since 1937 in every province and territory
• DUC conducts conservation activities, including: restoration, securement and management of wetlands and associated habitats; wetland and waterfowl research; and public environmental education.
• Of every dollar donated to DUC, 88 cents is invested in habitat conservation, environmental research and public education.
• DUC has influenced nearly 25 million acres (100,000 km²) of habitat in Canada.
• DUC has completed 7,139 habitat projects.
• DUC works in partnership with 17,200 landowners across the country to conserve habitat.
• DUC holds 656 annual fundraising events across Canada. These events are attended by 94,000 people.
• DUC is supported by 150,000 people nationally.
• 8,200 people support DUC as volunteers.
• 40,500 youth (age 17 and under) are enrolled in DUC’s youth education programs.

Crititism
The history of the organisation has not been without controversy, as certain groups, especially animal rights groups, have criticized DU because of the significant influence that hunting plays on the organisation. These groups assert that DU and its members only support wetlands in order to benefit waterfowl hunting. In response to this criticism, DU has affirmed that while it fully supports waterfowl hunting, it is not a hunting club. Ducks has been accussed of being more of a hunting club than an environment conserver. Their Hunt & Home catalog confirms this, as many of the items in the catalog are for cooking and preparing ducks.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ducks Unlimited".

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Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited