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L-R: Neil Downey, President, DUC; Karen Brandt, VP Market Affairs for SFI Inc.; Wade Cable, Area Forest Manager of LP’s Swan Valley Forest Resources Division; Stan Struthers, Minister of Conservation, Province of Manitoba.
DUC/LP receive SFI Leadership in Conservation Research Award 
Oak Hammock Marsh, Man., February 26, 2009—Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) partnership with Louisiana-Pacific Canada (LP) has garnered the two organizations a SFI Leadership in Conservation Research Award. Presented by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI), the award recognizes DUC and LP for their ongoing work in promoting sustainable management of forests and wetlands in the Duck Mountains of Manitoba – an important wood-supply area for LP.
This Boreal Conservation Partnership includes research on birds and the development of map products for wetlands, riparian habitats and watersheds. The goal is to develop and implement enhanced forest management practices and monitoring that ensures the long-term conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
“We are very pleased to be recognized by SFI for the Leadership in Conservation Research Award and would like to thank Louisiana-Pacific Canada for their continued support of boreal conservation through their partnership with DUC,” said Jeff Nelson, executive vice president for DUC. “Knowing the current economic challenges being faced by the forest industry, LP's commitment to a long-term view of sustainable forest management is both visionary and commendable.
“DUC has been working with LP on several projects since 2001, including DUC’s first boreal forest inventory project in Manitoba. This project involved extensive waterbird surveys and satellite mapping for approximately nine million acres in the west-central portion of the province, which lead to the current partnership.
Since 2005, DUC and LP have been collaborating with several academic institutions including the Universities of Saskatchewan and Alberta, provincial governments and Environment Canada on research projects including the experimental harvesting of timber along shoreline forest areas. Varying amounts of forest are retained to help understand the effects of this new practice on riparian and wetland-associated birds. DUC has completed an enhanced wetland inventory for the LP Forest Management License Area that will assist in the planning of forest harvest, road development and stream crossings.
“Our work with Ducks Unlimited has produced knowledge that allows both organizations to better understand and conserve wetlands while managing the forests around them," said Wade Cable, area forest manager of LP’s Swan Valley Forest Resources Division. “The enhanced DUC wetland classification system is an invaluable tool used in planning our forestry harvests."
DUC has also led workshops with LP planners and logging contractors to help them understand the different types of wetlands, simple patterns of hydrology, the potential effects of forest management activities on these areas and ways to avoid potential negative impacts.
“Through their long-standing boreal partnership, Louisiana-Pacific Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada are delivering results on the ground, backed by outreach to forest professionals,” says SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow. “This kind of collaboration shows it is possible to conserve special areas while practicing responsible forestry.”
This award is being given to DUC and LP tonight at the Minister’s Dinner in Winnipeg because their work covers boreal conservation, forest research to improve knowledge and understanding, and education.
In addition, the award recognizes the work LP has done with DUC to promote the local sponsorships of elementary school classrooms to be enrolled in Project Webfoot, DUC’s environmental education program. Through LP’s leadership, the Swan Valley forest industry and other businesses have financed this important program, which averages over 20 sponsored classes annually. Since 2004, over 2,000 Grades 4 to 6 children have benefited from Project Webfoot. In addition to the classroom material, many classes also benefit from a sponsored field trip to the Duck Mountain Forest Centre in the Duck Mountains, which is supported by the Manitoba Forestry Association and the local forest industry.
SFI introduced the Leadership in Conservation Research Award in 2007 to recognize projects with strong partnerships that achieve ongoing and far-reaching benefits. The research being undertaken as part of the DUC and LP partnership takes part on forest lands certified to the SFI 2005-2009 Standard. With over 62 million hectares certified across North America, the independent, non-profit SFI forest certification program is one of the largest in the world. It has a standard based on principles and measures that promote responsible environmental behavior and sound forest management including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests of exceptional conservation value. SFI program participants are currently involved in more than 100 conservation partnerships or pilots across North America.
For more information contact:
Karli Reimer, k_reimer@ducks.ca
National Communications Coordinator
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Office: 204-467-3279
Cell: 204-791-1514
