LOUISIANA S TAT E R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 PART OF THE GULF COAST INITIATIVE CONSERVATION SUMMARY Louisiana provides continentally significant wintering habitat for waterfowl each year. DU’s mission in Louisiana is to ensure sufficient habitat is available to meet the life-cycle needs of migrating and wintering waterfowl as well as resident populations of mottled ducks, whistling ducks and wood ducks. These habitats also provide significant benefits to other wildlife, fisheries and people. DU’s conservation staff had another outstanding year in fiscal year 2013, conserving more than 10,500 acres of wetlands and associated habitats in Louisiana and bringing total conservation accomplishments in the state to 347,500 acres, 147,000 acres of which are in the coastal zone. On public lands, DU has on-going or recently completed projects on Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, on Sherburne, Buckhorn, Bayou Pierre and Pointe-aux-Chenes wildlife management areas and on White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. As DU moves forward with Louisiana conservation efforts, there is another full slate of projects to tackle in the next year, including enhancing 3,000 acres through the Louisiana Waterfowl Project, nearly 100,000 linear feet of marsh terraces, restoring over 2,000 acres through the Wetlands Reserve Program and completing two freshwater introduction projects in Southeast Louisiana. DU will continue to make significant habitat improvements on the wintering grounds and appreciates the investments of time and money from the many volunteers, supporters, landowners, foundations, corporations and agencies that make these great conservation accomplishments possible. PROJECT HIGHLIGHT Sherburne WMA South Farm Unit Louisiana residents and visitors will have improved and increased opportunity for waterfowl hunting and wildlife watching on the popular Sherburne Wildlife Management Area. Ducks Unlimited has partnered with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to create additional wetland habitat on the South Farm Unit of the WMA, which will open new areas for public waterfowl hunting and provide increased habitat management capabilities. Project partners gathered in February to dedicate the project to the late John W. Barton, Sr. of Baton Rouge. Barton was a dedicated outdoorsman, Ducks Unlimited supporter and friend to all who met him. This project is the first one in the state supported in part by Louisiana DU license plate sales, giving DU members and supporters a terrific, tangible example of what supporting Ducks Unlimited means for them in Louisiana. Located between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, south of US 190, Sherburne WMA provides many metropolitan residents the opportunity to enjoy hunting and other outdoor recreation. This project not only improves waterfowl habitat on areas already open to hunting, but also opens two new units for pursuing waterfowl. Partners on the project include LDWF, Ducks Unlimited, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, the Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation, friends of John W. Barton, Sr., Wetlands America Trust and The Mosaic Company, which has operations near Baton Rouge and contributed to the project. Ducks Unlimited • Southern Region 1 LOUISIANA REP ORT 2014 FUNDRAISING UPDATE Volunteer fundraisers are the heartbeat of Ducks Unlimited, and Louisiana has some of the best. Louisiana boasts more than 21,344 members, including nearly 1,995 volunteers who hosted 112 events in 2013, raising over $3.6 million to support DU’s conservation mission. That represents a 25 percent increase over the 2012 event income. The Vermilion parish chapter (Abbeville) has done it three years in a row. The chapter has worked very hard to produce huge growth year after year. In 2012 the chapter focused on volunteer growth, and that focus became the foundation of future successes. In 2012 the chapter raised $76,000 net with 240 attendees. The following year, still focused on volunteer growth, the chapter raised $113,000 net with 320 attendees. In March 2014 they grossed over $200,000 with an efficiency of 85 percent, giving them $170,000 net. Chapter Chairman Derek Logan attributes their growth each year to how well the committee works together. We can’t wait to see what they achieve in 2015. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Louisiana’s Campaign Committee achieved impressive results in 2013, including 55 new Life Sponsors and 41 upgrades. That exceeded the annual campaign goal of 36 new Life Sponsors and 24 upgrades by 60 percent, and brought the Louisiana state campaign recognition for finishing #2 in the country! Clearly the people of Louisiana understand that giving to Ducks Unlimited is the soundest investment they can make for the future of wetlands, waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. Joe Stough of Lake Charles is one of Louisiana’s dedicated sponsors. Having grown up in southwest Louisiana, Joe developed a serious passion for ducks and duck hunting. After learning of DU’s science-driven conservation efforts along the Gulf Coast, Joe became a new Heritage Sponsor supporting the Gulf Coast Initiative. Though his work requires him to travel frequently, Joe still makes time to enjoy hunting in the marshes of southwest Louisiana and the family rice farm near Lake Arthur. THE GULF COAST INITIATIVE The loss of Gulf Coast habitat is one of the greatest waterfowl crises on the continent. The coastal prairies, marshes, and bays of the Gulf of Mexico are among North America’s most productive wetland systems. Tragically, more than 90 percent of coastal wetland loss in the lower 48 states occurs here. In spite of these losses, Gulf Coast habitats of Louisiana and Texas are expected to winter up to 15 million waterfowl, making it North America’s single-most important wintering area and one of DU’s highest conservation priorities. Conservation work under DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative will focus on the restoration and enhancement of key public land habitats, as well as the protection of high-quality waterfowl habitat on private lands. Working with rice producers to develop a sustainable agricultural program that benefits wintering waterfowl will be a key focus. Public policy affecting Gulf Coast wetlands is also a large component of DU’s work in this region. Funding derived from the Gulf Coast Initiative enables DU to conserve the breeding and wintering habitats important to waterfowl that migrate and winter on the Gulf Coast, as well as to conduct important science, public policy, and outreach efforts. The incredibly rapid loss of Gulf Coast habitats is one of the greatest waterfowl crises on the continent. Be part of the solution with your gift to DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative today. Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also 2 193 Business Park Dr., Suite E, Ridgeland, MS 39157 benefit other wildlife and people. Phone: 601.956.1936 • www.ducks.org Ducks Unlimited • Southern Region
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