Conservation Corner: May 8, 2000

Waterfowl Management Plan Anniversary May 14
by James L. Cummins

May 14, 2000, will mark the 14th anniversary of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The Plan is a joint agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico. It was signed by the United States and Canada in 1986; it was signed by Mexico in 1994.

The Plan's objectives are to pursue biologically-based, habitat conservation objectives on a landscape level. The Plan's partners are integrating their efforts not only with social and economic interests, but other wildlife priorities such as population improvements for neotropical migratory birds.

According to Peyton Self, President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, "I find this the perfect opportunity to be proud of the contributions we have made toward enhancing and restoring waterfowl habitat in Mississippi. I also hope all Mississippians will join me and others across the continent in celebrating the successes of this habitat development effort that is resulting in bringing back our waterfowl populations."

Thanks to landowners throughout Mississippi, over 150,000 acres of prime waterfowl habitat have been added to existing habitat, making the Magnolia State one of the largest contributors to the goals and objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan anywhere. The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation's efforts were directed toward the Plan's vision of restoring waterfowl populations to levels seen in the 1970's through habitat enhancement and restoration.

"In the 1970's, an average of 36.1 million breeding waterfowl were found in the areas surveyed in Canada and the United States. In 1986, the year that the United States and Canada committed to the development of a strategic waterfowl restoration plan, the breeding population was estimated to be 25.1 million in the survey area. In 1999, breeding waterfowl numbers had almost doubled from 1986. Populations for 7 of the 10 principal species surveyed are now above the Plan's goals," stated Self.

While there are many factors that go toward the tremendous waterfowl population increase, we are confident that the habitat conservation work done by the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and our state's landowners is critical in helping to achieve that end.

The Foundation's trustees, members, staff and participating landowners have earned the right to celebrate the anniversary of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.