CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN
$2-billion effort to save precious wetlands
Ducks Unlimited is launching a $2-billion campaign to save North America’s wetlands.
On Saturday, the organization is holding a public event in Calgary to launch Rescue Our Wetlands — a conservation and fundraising campaign that stretches across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
“It’s likely the largest conservation campaign ever initiated, certainly in North America and maybe in the world,” said Greg Siekaniec, chief executive for Ducks Unlimited. “The Ducks Unlimited Canada portion is $500 million.
“We have a conservation mission that is to preserve wetlands and grassland habitat on the ground.”
The campaign, which is taking place over seven years, will reach out to conservation-minded donors and organizations, and rely on matching government programs. It will then be used to fund habitat conservation and restoration, public policy initiatives, national education programs and wetland research.
“Wetlands are becoming in short supply in many parts of Canada,” said Siekaniec, noting some areas have lost up to 70 per cent of the wetlands once there.
“The land conversion continues at a very rapid rate and we’ve learned that wetlands are impor- tant to have on the landscape.”
Wetlands clean water, serve as critical habitat for wildlife, help mitigate climate change, provide flood and drought protection and serve as natural spaces for recreation and education.
In August 2014, the Alberta government dedicated $31 million over three years to two programs aimed at restoring wetlands and fish habitats that were destroyed in the 2013 flood. It acknowledged a healthy watershed is one of the best defences against floods and droughts.
The Ducks Unlimited campaign, which started with a quiet phase in January 2012, will build on those types of government programs.
It has already raised $287 million of the $500 million needed in Canada.
“We’ve got really strong momentum right now,” said Siekaniec. “We’re going to give it everything we can between our board of directors, our employees within the organization, our volunteers.
“Everybody is pulling together in a really tight, co-ordinated fundraising effort.”
The campaign will be launched publicly with a family-friendly event from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday at the Ducks Unlimited Canada Marsh at Bow Habitat Station, 1440-17A Street S.E. in Calgary.