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Ducks Unlimited Canada has always recognized the value of partnerships. For the past 60 years, these partnerships have primarily involved individual supporters and landowners. The vision of Ducks Unlimited's founders to be a continent wide conservation force has always proven to be ahead of its time in securing additional partners.
One of the best examples of this forward thinking is the leadership role that Ducks Unlimited played in encouraging governments in Canada, the United States and Mexico to partner in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Today, new partnerships at the local, national and international level have become an everyday reality at Ducks Unlimited. Support spans the spectrum from philanthropic gifts to true business partnerships, with companies and Ducks Unlimited accruing direct benefits.
Why develop partnerships? In its simplest form, we all understand the synergy that develops from diverse skills combined to form a team much more powerful than its individual members. Just as importantly, partnering with like-minded organizations represents the most effective approach to securing additional resources to address looming conservation problems.
Lesser scaup are one of the species of concern found in the boreal forest.
The problems often involve large geographical areas and Ducks Unlimited has always prided itself on facing these big landscape challenges. We cut our teeth on solving problems on the Prairies, but it wasn't long before we broadened our conservation horizons to include the estuaries of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and the wetlands along the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.
Our eyes are now turning to the vast expanses of North America's boreal forest. This broad tract of land is vital to continental waterfowl populations and other wildlife dependent on wetlands. The boreal forest region of Canada contains approximately 50 per cent of our nation's wetlands. Furthermore, it's estimated that 70 per cent of North America's lesser scaup breed in the boreal forest. Unlike nearly all other duck species, numbers of scaup, particularly those in the boreal forest, have not rebounded during recent wet years. Equally vexing is that scaup populations have been in decline since 1987. The factors affecting scaup populations are poorly understood, prompting Ducks Unlimited to lead an initiative to investigate the wetlands of the boreal forest.
This edition of the Conservator describes Ducks Unlimited's exciting new Western Boreal Forest Initiative. This initiative will provide information on the abundance and functions of wetlands in an immense yet poorly understood region of North America. Without such knowledge, it is difficult to know where and how to focus our conservation efforts. Without the support of partners, tackling such a huge project would be unthinkable.
Regardless of the location, solving conservation problems requires innovative thinking, a willingness to take risks and a commitment to providing, not just talking about, solutions. Consistent with our 60 year history, Ducks Unlimited will continue to provide leadership in seeking and delivering solutions to conservation issues with our increasingly diverse array of committed partners.
D.A. (Don) Young
Executive Vice-President
