12/14/2024
On December 13, 1989, President George H. W. Bush signed the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) into law.
Writing in Ducks Unlimited magazine at the time, then-Executive Vice President Matthew B. Connelly Jr. explained the new program to DU members in this manner:
“Conserving North America’s waterfowl populations and the habitats they rely on is too formidable a task for any one group, government, or country to tackle alone. Only by forming meaningful partnerships can we hope to once again darken the skies with a cascade of waterfowl wings.
Partnerships often need a catalyst to help open the door and establish avenues for cooperation. In the world of continental waterfowl conservation, one of the most important catalysts is the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) passed by Congress in December 1989.
NAWCA allows any group or individual to submit proposed projects for consideration. The North American Wetlands Conservation Council reviews all proposals and then makes recommendations for funding the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. As chairman of the Council, I am proud of the accomplishments we’ve made so far under NAWCA. Working through a network of talented and dedicated partners, we are making great strides in waterfowl and wetlands conservation.
The challenge before us now is to continue the momentum that has been building. To maintain support for NAWCA, we need to continue to impress upon our government leaders and the public the importance of habitat conservation and just how valuable wetlands are for waterfowl, other wildlife, and for people.”
Since then, NAWCA has become a foundational pillar of North American conservation, leveraging public-private partnerships to conserve almost 32 million acres of critical waterfowl habitat to date.
Photo: Ducks Unlimited