HomeDU Conservation Awards presented to Alberta Chamber of Resources Companies 
Edmonton AB, Feb. 6 – Ducks Unlimited Canada (DU) has honored six Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) companies for their outstanding contributions to wetland and wildlife conservation in the province.
Jack Hole, DU national board member, presented the inaugural awards last week at the 65th Annual Banquet of the Alberta Chamber of Resources. The awards recognized the industry and conservation partnerships fostered by the six companies.
According to Gary Stewart, DU's manager of conservation programs in the western boreal region, leadership support of DU's newest conservation program, the Western Boreal Forest Initiative, was also recognized in a separate awards category.
"Ducks Unlimited is committed to continuing to work closely with progressive chamber companies so that together we can ensure Alberta's precious wetland resources will be sustained in perpetuity," said Stewart. "These companies have taken a proactive approach toward wetlands and wildlife conservation in Alberta."
Receiving awards under the industry and conservation partnerships category were:
Canadian National Railways and Inland Cement - By joining forces with Ducks Unlimited, Canadian National (CN) and Inland Cement have preserved a 247-acre habitat area known as Kinokamau Lake in northwest Edmonton. Kinokamau Lake is located adjacent to CN's new Intermodal Rail Yard and within the area set aside for Inland's operations. The two conservation easement donations ensure Kinokamau Lake is retained as the largest wetland within Edmonton's city limits. The area now represents one of the most significant donations to DU habitat in Central Alberta with a combined value of more than $1.1 million dollars.
Enbridge Pipelines Inc.- Enbridge operates one of the world's longest and most sophisticated pipelines which crosses through some of the continent's most diverse geographic regions. In keeping with their strong focus on the environment, Enbridge has generously donated to DU more than $130,000, including $80,000 recently for two major wetland projects. These donations highlight Enbridge's commitment to protect and preserve the environment, conserve wildlife and maximize energy efficiency.
Western Boreal Forest Initiative Awards
Ducks Unlimited's Western Boreal Forest Initiative seeks to conserve wetlands and waterfowl within the western boreal forest that is North America's second most important waterfowl habitat area. Award recipients have committed to leadership support of DU's Western Boreal Forest Initiative. All three companies have partnered with DU, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Universities of Alberta and Western Ontario to fund a four-year, $2.2 million Boreal Wetland Research and Inventory Project. The companies are:
Weyerhaeuser Canada - A world leader in sustainable forest management, Weyerhaeuser has contributed more than $100,000 to DU's conservation efforts within the western boreal forest.
Alberta Pacific Forest Industries (Alpac) - Alpac was the first forest company to partner with DU in the Western Boreal Forest Initiative, providing more than $100,000 to the effort and pledging an additional $225,000 to long-term research. As the industry leader in science-based forest inventor and management, Alpac is also helping DU conserve the woodlots and wetlands on private lands of the forest fringe area south of their forest management area by teaming with DU in the "Ducks and Trees" program.
Syncrude Canada Ltd. - Like Alpac, Syncrude was among the first to provide critical start-up support of the Western Boreal Forest Initiative by helping fund DU's pilot wetland studies at Utikuma Lake. A leader in environmental research and planning, Syncrude's support to DU now exceeds $300,000 in cash contributions.
Alberta Chamber Resources has 160 member corporations representing the spectrum of Alberta industrial activity and the service and supply sector. According to ACR executive director Brad Anderson, the DU awards are confirmation of the commitment ACR companies are making toward the environment.
"The DU awards highlight the efforts of industry to soften their impacts on Alberta's environment," Anderson said. "It shows industry is working hand and hand with DU to ensure proper stewardship of the province's landscapes."
