To the original poster - any questions you have pertaining to DUC volunteer opportunites in your area please feel free to PM me here OR by
[email protected] As G Buck mentioned, we always have room on the Port Perry committee for new members - closer to your home I can put you in touch with the manager for that area
I'll do my best to address everything that's been raised
Conservator - the Fall issue is now completely directed towards hunters. The other three issues speak more to accomplishments and legacies on the conservation, science and policy fronts.
DUC partners with The Canadian Tradition to produce four/five waterfowling episodes per season that feature waterfowl hunting across Canada, DUC's conservation programs, the employees that deliver them and our volunteer base that passionately raise the funds required to deliver the programs.
scud_17 - thanks for being a DUC volunteer. Last year DUC spent well over $150K just south of you rehabilitating the 1800 acre Hilliardton Marsh project (550 of it is wetlands). This area is of great signifigance to migrating waterfowl originating from James Bay as they stage here. It is also provincially significant for mallard and black duck production.
The money raised by our chapters in Ontario stays in Ontario. It is not sent west. Our trained engineers and qualified biologists spend it in the areas with the greatest need and in areas where we can leverage multiple matching funds through programs such as NAWCA from US based partners such as the USFWS and state based wildlife agencies.
In Ontario we have enrolled almost a million acres into conservation programs and there are well over 2000 projects; most on land held by private land owners. I see the biggest differences between our programs and the ALUS program is the length of the commitment and the payment structure. We are spending money raised by volunteers and they demand that we invest it with the most bang for their buck (our board of directors and our President are all unpaid volunteers). When we go out and do a project we look for a minimum 25 year commitment from the landowner and when possible it is incorporated into the deed should the land transfer ownership. Many projects these days are done as perpetual easements ensuring that the conservation project will be around forever. Having over 2K conservation projects on the ground also involves a lot of maintenance and behind the scenes use for funds too such as rehabilitation and repair, trapping (yes trapping), site monitoring (water control devices, wetland draw downs, nest box structures; installation, monitoring, maintenance).
The ALUS contract that a famer signs is for 3 years. With fluctuating commodity prices I could see where farmers could opt out when prices are high - they're running a business which is understandable. They are also paid an annual incentive - in order for this program to grow new and more funds have to be secured every year. I'm a professional fundraiser and know first hand how tough this is given the current economic climate. When we spend money it's a one shot deal with something concrete to show - ALUS seems like a revolving door and without huge input sums from entities such as government it seems unwieldy - look at what's going on with CRP in the States - tightened government purse strings coupled with high commodity prices; the program is seriously going backwards.
To borrow the first line from Delta's site on "Why Delta?"
The
decline of duck habitat and the continued loss of duck hunters are arguably the two greatest challenges facing our waterfowling heritage.
Without habitat there are no ducks - without ducks there is no duck hunting.
DU Canada was founded by duck hunters that realized that the decline in wetland acreage was directly related to the decline in duck numbers.
Most of my volunteers hunt or their spouses hunt. They know that the key to it all is wetland conservation. They raise the funds required and turn them over to qualified professionals who in turn make science based decisions on where to best invest that money IN Ontario.
BTW - did you know that the projects that DUC owns can often be accessed for hunting with a phone call to the local office? When I head west in the fall a simple call to the local office grants me permission to hunt a lot of great potholes and marshes.
Did you know that DU Canada is a major partner with Delta Waterfowl in the rehabilitation of the Delta Marsh?
(DUC's headqaurters are at Oak Hammock Marsh) Why would a waterfowl organization want to be headquartered in a strip mall as opposed to the shores of a heritage marsh? A wetland that was completely rehabilitated and is now a thriving example of good stewardship. Our headquarters also partners with the Province of MB to host an interpretive centre where people can learn about the importance of wetlands and touch and feel it first hand. One of my co-workers has a hen mallard nesting on their window ledge at the marsh - I would think it's hard to get those sensations in a strip mall.
Personally I feel the biggest difference between the two organizations is the diversity of DUC's members. Hunters and non-hunters alike respect the fact that 88 cents of every dollar that is raised by DUC goes directly into the core mission of wetland conservation and this benefits hunters and non-hunters alike. Broadening the support base translates into access to more funds which equals more wetlands which equals more ducks which equals better duck hunting.
I'm a duck hunter and I really like shooting ducks - this coming Fall will be my 36th season. I've been a DUC member for 27 years and a volunteer for 17 (employee for 8). I take a lot from this great resource and giving back through DUC is a perfect fit for me as it provides tangible, visible returns on my investment.
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