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Building the Future Of Waterfowl Together

The Michigan Waterfowl Legacy (MWL) is a partnership to restore, conserve, and celebrate Michigan's waterfowl, wetlands, and waterfowl hunting community. Join us in honoring yesterday, engaging today, and building for tomorrow.

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Building the Future Of Waterfowl Together

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  1. Building the Future Of Waterfowl Together

  2. What Is It? • The Michigan Waterfowl Legacy (MWL) is a cooperative partnership to restore, conserve, and celebrate Michigan’s waterfowl, wetlands, and waterfowl hunting community • MWL is a “Call to Action” to: • Honor Yesterday • Engage Today • Build for Tomorrow • MWL is for waterfowlers, other hunters, birders, those who love nature and the general public

  3. Steering Committee • Citizens Waterfowl Advisory Committee • Ducks Unlimited • Michigan Association of Conservation Districts • Michigan Audubon Society • Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality • Michigan Department of Natural Resources • Michigan Duck Hunters Association • Michigan NAWMP Steering Committee • Michigan United Conservation Clubs • The Conservation Fund • The Nature Conservancy • Pheasants Forever • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Waterfowl USA

  4. What Is It? • Three Focus Areas: • Improve waterfowl populations and habitat • Understand and increase waterfowl hunting participation • Engage the public, hunters and non-hunters, to take positive action

  5. Improve Waterfowl Populations and Wetland Habitat Focus Area 1 • Goal 1: Manage for abundant and resilient waterfowl populations • Goal 2: Create, restore and manage wetlands and related habitats

  6. Understand and Increase Waterfowl Hunting Heritage Focus Area 2 • Goal 1: Increase the number of waterfowl hunters in Michigan • Retain • Reconnect • Recruit • Goal 2: Promote the value of waterfowl hunting

  7. Engage the Public in Michigan’s Waterfowl Legacy Focus Area 3 • Goal 1: Address and highlight the importance of wetlands and waterfowl • Goal 2: A clear “call to action” • Goal 3: Establish stable long-term funding source(s) for wetlands and waterfowl

  8. 2012-2013 is the Year of the Duck! • September 8, 2012 to August 2013 • Follows annual life-cycle of waterfowl • Kick off events in September 2012 • Saginaw Bay region implementation • Celebrating Spring Migration • Events • Educational packets with lesson plans • Articles, press releases • MWL will continue over the next ten years

  9. Year of the Duck Coincides With: • 75th anniversaries of: • Ducks Unlimited • Michigan United Conservation Clubs • Pittman-Robertson Act • 65th anniversary of: • Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival • 60th anniversary of: • Mississippi Flyway Council • 40th anniversary of: • Clean Water Act • 25th anniversaries of: • North American Waterfowl Management Plan • Joint Ventures • USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

  10. Honoring Yesterday • Michigan once had 11 million acres of wetlands, more than 50% gone today • Waterfowl hunting heritage is strong in Michigan • Sportsmen first to support conservation: • Formation of conservation organizations • Ducks Unlimited 1937 • MUCC 1937 • The Nature Conservancy 1950 • MDHA 1972 • Pheasants Forever 1982 • Waterfowl USA 1983 • Federal Duck Stamp 1934 • Pittman-Robertson Act 1937 • Canada geese, wood ducks, trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes are all management successes

  11. Engaging Today • Tremendous hunting and viewing opportunities • Michigan is a leader in wetland and waterfowl resources • NAWMP MI goals (1998-2013) have been met and exceeded • Protected 246,000 acres of existing habitat • Protected area exceeds goals by 39% • Still face many issues and threats • Michigan’s mallard population has declined over the last 15 years • Habitat quality and size has been impacted due to invasive species, pollution, and development • Number of waterfowl hunters and waterfowl licenses purchased is declining • Public funding for conservation has decreased • Federal Funding for wetland programs in jeopardy • Losing connection between people and the outdoors

  12. Building Tomorrow • A celebration of our waterfowl heritage • Increasingly engaged hunters and non-hunters who enjoy and actively support waterfowl and wetlands conservation • More hunters pursuing waterfowl • More people viewing waterfowl • Diverse and outstanding waterfowl hunting and viewing opportunities • Restored public showpieces: state managed waterfowl areas and national wildlife refuges • Limited impacts by invasive species • Increased conservation on private lands • Secure funding for waterfowl and wetlands conservation • A shared responsibility for preserving Michigan’s Waterfowl Legacy

  13. Building Tomorrow:A role for all of us Connect or reconnect a new or former waterfowl hunter Buy a state or federal duck stamp to support wetlands conservation Restore habitat on your property with the help of partners or on your own Join a conservation organization that protects and restores wetlands Support legislation to protect and restore wetlands Donate to conservation projects Volunteer on a public conservation project Explore Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

  14. What legacy will we leave for tomorrow’s generations? Together, we can create the answer!

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