What kind of world would it be if Big Sky Country became a myth, no stars were visible at night and the only place to see “wild” animals was a zoo? It’s difficult and scary to imagine.
No new lands are being created on our planet; we will only have what we have now. If we as outdoorsmen don’t work together to conserve our precious resources, then one day, we may no longer have natural wildlife habitats, and, therefore, no more animals roaming freely, no more wildlife discovery and no more outdoor sportsmanship.
In this series, “Good Stewards,” Bass Pro Shops would like to highlight organizations that bring together good stewards of land and wildlife, promote conservation and make a difference.
Read more about our featured organization, Ducks Unlimited, below.
Organization: Ducks Unlimited
Mission: Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. 
The vision of Ducks Unlimited is wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.
History: In 1937, Ducks Unlimited was created to help bring back waterfowl populations ravaged by damaged habitats. The formation of the organization was led by the efforts of Joseph P. Knapp and other outdoorsman concerned about the future of ducks and their homes.
Conservation efforts began with small volunteer committees in each state.
Over the years, the DU volunteer network has expanded to 60,000 strong. Each year, volunteers generate more than $50 million, with the total conservation dollars to date reaching $3.5 billion. These funds have been channeled toward conserving more than 12 million acres of waterfowl habitat.
This year, Ducks Unlimited celebrates 75 years of conservation and good stewardship, with a long list of events spanning across the country until the end of 2012.
Efforts: The focus of the Ducks Unlimited conservation efforts is in the following areas:
- Restoring grasslands
- Replanting forests
- Restoring watersheds
- Working with landowners
- Working with partners
- Acquiring land
- Conservation easements
- Management agreements
- Geographic Information Systems
In the following video, the Ducks Unlimited conservation staff discusses the organization’s conservation efforts:
To get involved with the conservation efforts of Ducks Unlimited, you can join the organization, volunteer and even attend local DU events. And Ducks Unlimited memberships aren’t just for grown-ups. The organization has youth memberships, events and a magazine just for kids.
For more information, visit the Ducks Unlimited website.
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