Manitoba Habitat Conservancy and Delta Waterfowl Partner to Conserve Duck Habitat
For over 25 years, Delta Waterfowl and Manitoba Habitat Conservancy have operated one of the most effective waterfowl conservation partnerships on the northern Great Plains. This partnership has provided $31 million in funding to permanently conserve over 100,000 acres of prime duck breeding habitat on private farmland in the Prairie Pothole Region of Manitoba.
Wetland abundance drives carrying capacity and adjacent grasslands contribute to breeding duck reproductive success. Ongoing wetland loss in this region results in duck population declines across Canada.
Delta Waterfowl, known as ‘the duck hunters organization,’ was formed in 1911 to protect the tradition of waterfowl hunting. “Delta has long understood that duck production is dependent on protecting and enhancing waterfowl breeding habitat, especially wetlands,” said Jim Fisher, vice president of Canadian policy at Delta Waterfowl. “Partnerships are an important way to help maintain duck populations, and these include everyone; hunters, private landowners, governments and conservation organizations.”
Over the past 35 years, Delta Waterfowl has been effective in securing funds in the U.S. from both state duck stamps and philanthropic duck hunters that wish to conserve habitats in Canada. “These funds are used to leverage matching dollars from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)” said Fisher. “Initially Delta ran the Adopt A Pothole program in the 90s, but when the opportunity for conservation easements came along, we looked to MHC for a new approach.”
Manitoba Habitat Conservancy (MHC) was formed in 1986 to work in partnership with Manitoba landowners to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat. “Our forte is delivering farm friendly wildlife habitat conservation initiatives that promote ecosystem health and biodiversity,” said Kurt Mazur, director of conservation at MHC. “We have the experience and ability to deliver waterfowl conservation programs in the best waterfowl breeding areas of Manitoba.”
The path to funding conservation is not always a simple one, which is where these partnerships become so valuable.
“Manitoba Habitat Conservancy is not able to access U.S. waterfowl conservation funds directly,” said Roald Stander, director of conservation partnerships at MHC. “It can, however, match U.S. funds obtained by Delta Waterfowl with Canadian funds to obtain NAWCA funding to secure conservation easement agreements on private property.”
For the past 25 years MHC and Delta have leveraged their partnership to pay willing landowners for the perpetual conservation of duck habitat on their properties. “The partnership between Delta Waterfowl and Manitoba Habitat Conservancy is excellent,” said Fisher. “It’s a perfect example of how two organizations can use their strengths, work together, and achieve significant and lasting conservation goals”
