By Staff
April 2, 2004
Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks received a Silver State Grant Award from Ducks Unlimited at the 69th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Spokane, Wash., on March 19.
Each year, Ducks Unlimited presents State Grant Awards to state agencies that have reached significant milestones in their contributions to conserve waterfowl breeding habitat in critical areas of Canada. Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks received the award for providing more than $60,000 for conservation this year, bringing the Department's total contributions to waterfowl breeding habitat in Canada to more than $500,000.
Dr. Alan Wentz, DU's Group Manager for Conservation Programs, presented the awards. "Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has made a significant, positive difference in the effort to conserve North America's waterfowl habitats," said Wentz. "It is both a privilege and a pleasure to recognize such outstanding partners in conservation."
The Mississippi agency has been a partner in the State Grant Program since 1977, and was one of only three state agencies to receive a prestigious State Program Award. Iowa's Department of Natural Resources and Texas' Parks and Wildlife Department also received State Grant Awards.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation group. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands, one of nature's most productive ecosystems, and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year.