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L-R: Geoff Harding, manager of major projects, DUC; Jamie Fortune, director of regional operations, Eastern Region, DUC; Dr. Tom Herman, president, Acadia University; Jeff Nelson, executive vice-president, DUC; Arthur Irving, Chancellor of Acadia University; Tom Duffy, Atlantic provincial manager, DUC; Mark Gloutney, manager of conservation science and program development, Eastern Region, DUC; Ian Ripley, development manager, DUC.
Wetland and waterfowl researchers to benefit from new partnership 
Amherst, N.S., July 31, 2008—As a science-based organization Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) relies on research, which is why has signed a 10-year agreement to provide funding support for student researchers at Acadia University.
"DUC’s conservation programs are guided by research and evaluation," said executive vice-president, Jeff Nelson. "We are very excited about developing this program with Acadia so we can use its science expertise to deal with issues of importance in this part of the country."
Providing up to $100,000 annually, the agreement comes out of a 2004 partnership between Acadia and DUC to develop joint wetland and waterfowl research projects.
"Acadia has a long history of research in several areas of priority interest to the university and Ducks Unlimited Canada," said Acadia president Tom Herman. "To preserve, conserve and restore our fragile ecosystems will require considerable research and investment, and our students are uniquely positioned to participate in this work."
He said Acadia has the faculty experience and interest, and facilities that will make it possible for students to study a range of wetland and waterfowl issues.
There are five research priorities: salt marsh, dikeland and wetland ecosystems; wetland and waterfowl conservation; wetland biodiversity and wetland-dependent species-at-risk; restoration, rehabilitation and succession of wetlands; and ecological goods and services of wetlands and uplands.
The partnership will be managed by a steering committee that will likely include federal and provincial government representatives. Grants will be available for short and long-term projects. Research proposals will be used to seek other funding and contributions with the objective of more than doubling DUC funds.
For information, please contact:
Kelly MacDonald, k_macdonald@ducks.ca
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Tel: (902) 667-8726 ext 226
