The protection, restoration and enhancement of 157,000 acres of migratory bird habitat was approved last week by the U. S Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Funds for this come from your purchase of duck stamps, officially known as Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamps.
Purchase of 42,000 acres of waterfowl habitat will cost $3.3 million. The land will be added to the National Wildlife Refuge System through boundary additions and purchases. An additional 115,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands will be conserved through North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Grants for that total $21.5 million.
Bought your 2013-14 duck stamp yet? Post offices and some sporting goods stores have them. Buy one. You can see the important conservation work you 'll help fund. The land involved in these projects offers breeding and migration habitat for hundreds of species of non-game birds -- songbirds, waders, grassland birds, the kind of birds you go out to see. The idea that duck stamps are for hunters only is wrong. Birders benefit as much or more.
Twenty-one million dollars in conservation grants to 21 projects in 16 states will also be made available through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act U.S. Standard Grants program. Partners will match this support with $50 million in leveraged funds.
Funding will include $2 million for continuation of the Missouri Coteau Habitat Conservation Project in North Dakota.
