B.C. Habitat Heroes Recognized as Ducks Unlimited Canada Celebrates 65 Years

Surrey, British Columbia, August 12, 2003—This year marks 65 years of conservation for Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). In celebration of this anniversary, DUC is featuring landowners all across Canada. These people form a network of more than 16,000 Canadian landowners who have voluntarily participated in programs that have saved over 1.6 million hectares (4 million acres) of habitat in prime waterfowl habitats targeted by DUC.

Across British Columbia, 570 landowners have helped save a total of 69,101 hectares (170,754 acres) of lands that are critical to the survival of waterfowl and other wildlife. That’s equivalent to 165 Stanley Parks in Vancouver!

Ever since DUC started conserving habitat in 1938, it has recognized that people’s land use decisions influence the extent and quality of wildlife habitat. DUC’s habitat conservation programs for landowners are targeted to important waterfowl areas and designed to minimize habitat loss, maximize sustainability and reward landowners economically for adopting habitat friendly land uses.

In British Columbia, DUC is implementing its Agricultural, Wildlife and Farm Program through a number of smaller programs specific to each eco-region; coast, intermountain and Peace Country. Through these programs, DUC is working with landowners on a number of land use initiatives that benefit landowner, waterfowl and wildlife.

On the coast, farmers like Abtar Singh, who has been farming on Westham Island for 30 years, are implementing the On-Farm Planning Program which sees farmers and DUC develop a sustainable agricultural plan for the farm for the next 10-15 years. The plan includes agricultural and wildlife improvements to ensure the farm continues and stays in viable traditional soil based farming that benefit the farmer and wildlife. The program has now expanded to Delta, Comox, Port Alberni and is in the planning stages for Victoria. Singh says that he has improved how he farms while providing a winter feast for ducks that he and DUC willingly provide.

In the intermountain region the program includes the Livestock Watering Incentive Program that encourages ranchers to implement rotational grazing and provide alternate water sources for cattle away from watersheds and surrounding riparian areas. Clint and Karen Thompson who operate a cow and calf livestock operation south of 150 Mile House said that as a result of the program, the overall health and productivity of their ranch has been improved. Ranchers throughout the interior are now consulting with DUC on how to provide clean water for their livestock.

Further north in Peace Country, local DUC programs are encouraging ranchers to place riparian fencing up around wetlands, provide alternate watering solutions and encouraging farmers to leave small wetlands on their farms. Doug and Charlene Cavers have a farming and ranching operation with wetlands on their property. Acting as stewards on their land, they have left the wetlands protected with fencing, rotate their cattle on grazing fields and through assistance from DUC, provide water for their cattle offsite.

“Conserved lands provide all of us with improved water quality, better protection from severe floods and droughts, mitigation of climate change and greater natural diversity in plants and animals,” said Les Bogdan, habitat conservation manager, BC Coastal Eco-Region, DUC. “These contribute to our enjoyment of the outdoors. They are the rewards landowners give us when they choose to conserve habitat on their land. Landowners in turn need to be rewarded for practicing good stewardship if we wish to continue down a path of sustainable land use.”

DUC conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.