The Impact of the Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Conservation Volunteer Organization

The Ducks Unlimited waterfowl conservation organization got its start in 1937, when a group of outdoorsmen and hunters banded together in response to the droughts in the Dust Bowl area. It is now the largest private wetlands and waterfowl organization in the world. Ducks Unlimited is completely staffed by volunteers, currently boasting over 700 members. Besides these dedicated volunteers, the organization boasts over a million supporters, all focused on waterfowl and wetlands conservation around North America. These volunteers and supporters assist with all of Ducks Unlimited's events, from banquets to hunting expeditions.

Ducks Unlimited waterfowl conservation: Protecting the wetlands

In recent years, the focus of Ducks Unlimited has widened, now serving other wildlife besides waterfowl. Conservation of the wetlands benefits all types of animal and plant life. Wetlands conservation is even more important now than it was back in 1937, with more than half of the United States' wetland areas having been lost since then. Every day, more wetlands are in danger of being overrun by developers or harmed by environmental pollution and climate change. The main area of Ducks Unlimited's conservation efforts is North America, including Canada and Mexico.

Ducks Unlimited waterfowl conservation: The impact of the 1985 Farm Bill

The passing of the Farm Bill in 1985 was a huge help to Ducks Unlimited's waterfowl conservation efforts. The Farm Bill started off as simply a strategy for soil conservation intended to prevent the population of ducks from declining any further. In 1985, the population of ducks in the United States was at its lowest point in 30 years, mostly because of the decline in available wetlands and grasslands to use as their habitat. The Farm Bill offered subsidies to farmers to not use their arable land for a ten to fifteen year span of time. This allowed the local grasslands to build back up so the ducks could nest in the grass.

Ducks Unlimited waterfowl conservation: Conservation Reserve Program

Since 1985, Ducks Unlimited's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has succeeded in rebuilding the population of several species of waterfowl and other animals. These results have been obtained by reestablishing the habitat in which the birds live. Besides restoring wetlands and grasslands through the CRP, Ducks Unlimited has focused on rebuilding watersheds that are crucial to the formation of wetlands and replanted forests. Several types of game birds have also shown an increase in their population since the passing of the 1985 Farm Bill. Songbird populations in the conserved grasslands have also benefited from the efforts of Ducks Unlimited and its dedicated volunteers and supporters.