http://www.ducks.org/News/WetlandsLoanAct.asp


Wetlands Loan Act Introduced in Congress
DU Applauds Efforts to Address Immediate Habitat Needs

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 18, 2005 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) reacted positively to legislation introduced Monday that would protect critical waterfowl habitat nationwide. The Wetlands Loan Act would borrow against projected revenue from the sale of federal duck stamps and promote partnerships to cost effectively protect and conserve wetlands for future generations.

“Waterfowlers and other conservationists have a 71-year history of supporting conservation through the purchase of federal duck stamps,” said DU Executive Vice President Don Young.

But Young says more is needed.

“We continue to lose high quality wetlands and associated nesting habitat to development at an alarming rate despite the successes of the duck stamp program to date,” Young explained. “We’ve got to act now to protect land vital to duck production and migration.”

The Wetlands Loan Act, sponsored by Rep. Mark Kennedy (MN), is modeled after legislation first authorized in 1961. The new legislation mirrors the original by seeking to borrow funds against future federal duck stamp revenues from sales to hunters and other conservationists. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would use funds generated by the Act to purchase lands for National Wildlife Refuges and to assist landowners in protecting existing wetlands and surrounding duck production habitat in essential breeding grounds and other areas across the United States.

“Similar to what was done in the 1960s and ‘70s, we believe borrowing against projected revenue from the sale of federal duck stamps is a practical solution that will ensure the most valuable habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds is not lost forever,” said DU President Dr. Jim Hulbert. “Many landowners want to protect their lands for waterfowl and other wildlife, but there’s not enough money in existing programs to get it done. This legislation would make this money available now and protect these essential habitats.”

To help repay the loan, the Wetlands Loan Act calls for an incremental increase in the price of the federal duck stamp over the next decade. Since the last price increase of the duck stamp 14 years ago, land values have skyrocketed (up 266 percent in some duck habitat areas) along with inflation. The past 15 years have seen no price increase in the federal duck stamp – the longest time period without a price increase in the stamp’s 71-year history.

An analysis shows that if critical waterfowl breeding habitat is not secured now, the financial cost to hunter-conservationists to assure the future of our sport will be several times what it is today.

“While no one is anxious to increase the cost of hunting even in this relatively small way when compared with other costs associated with the sport, it’s important that waterfowlers maintain our tradition of leadership on behalf of habitat conservation,” said Scott Sutherland, director of DU’s Governmental Affairs office in Washington, D.C.

“Waterfowlers have always led efforts for habitat conservation,” Sutherland continued. “And this money would be entirely used to permanently protect waterfowl habitat.”


Contact: Josh Voelker
(202) 347-1530
jvoelker@ducks.org