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DU Announces 2010 Wetland Conservation Achievement Winners

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin -Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of the 2010 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards at the 75th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

DU's Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards are presented in six categories and recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the restoration and conservation of North America's wetlands and waterfowl. Dr. Alan Wentz, DU's senior group manager for conservation and marketing, presented the awards. This year's winners are:
Category Winner
Federal Representative Senator John Thune
Federal Agency Seth Mott
State/Provincial Award Thomas M. Hauge
Research/Technical Dr. Gary Krapu
Conservation/Private Citizen Dr. Charles M. Nelson
Communications Bob Marshall

"Each award winner has contributed significantly to the conservation of North America's waterfowl habitat," said Wentz as he presented the awards. "DU is honored to recognize their work and hopes their personal achievements inspire others to follow suit."

Award Winner Bios

Federal Representative, Senator John Thune

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota has demonstrated a commitment to protecting the Prairie Pothole Region for many years. During this time, Sen. Thune has contributed immensely to advancing one of the conservation community's top Farm Bill priorities - Sodsaver. Specifically, in 2007 the Great Plains Region Senator played a critical role in advancing the inclusion of Sodsaver in the Farm Bill reauthorization. He championed arguments on the floor of the U.S. Senate expressing strong support for removing government incentives for continued conversion of America's dwindling native grasslands. Through his continued resolute commitment and dedication to conservation, he has helped protect essential waterfowl habitat in one of the most critical waterfowl production areas in North America.

Federal Agency, Seth Mott

Seth Mott has been a major force behind the evolution of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan for the past two decades. The current Chief of the Branch of Science and Planning of the F&WS Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, he has been instrumental in the expansion, focus and coordination of the habitat Joint Ventures. Mott, a native of southern New England, has aided the spread of Strategic Habitat Conservation and Adaptive Management as the way the federal wildlife agency conducts its business. He has played a major role as a liaison between the U.S. and its North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) partners in Canada and Mexico. He has had a broad, positive impact on North American waterfowl conservation and remains a vital partner to conservation agencies and NGOs.

State/Provincial Award, Thomas M. Hauge

Thomas M. Hauge has had a long and successful career working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Bureau and has built a great coalition of partners in many successful programs, with a strong influence in wetlands and waterfowl programs. Since their inceptions, Hauge has been a staunch supporter of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. He has worked diligently to promote wetland conservation projects in Wisconsin, including numerous North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants, making Wisconsin one of the top NAWCA states in the union. He has worked with DU in more than a hundred DU projects under his leadership. He is also a strong supporter of NAWMP efforts in Canada, to which Wisconsin has contributed more than $4.4 million dollars. Hauge has represented Wisconsin for many years on the Mississippi Flyway Council, including serving as Chair.

Research/Technical, Dr. Gary Krapu

Dr. Gary Krapu grew up on a small farm in North Dakota where he became a proficient waterfowl hunter. Krapu's research career began in 1968 with the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, where he has spent more than 40 years as a Wildlife Research Biologist. Krapu spent his early career in waterfowl research conducting feeding ecology studies of nesting pintails. Probably the most important finding from these studies was related to the role of invertebrates in providing protein necessary for production of eggs. From a management perspective, this research illustrated the need to protect temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands and fundamentally changed land acquisition priorities for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Conservation/Private Citizen, Dr. Charles M. Nelson

Dr. Charles M. "Chuck" Nelson grew up in Saginaw, Mich., and has had a lifelong passion for the outdoors and civic action. As the 22-year old president of the Tri-County Chapter of the Michigan Duck Hunters Association (MDHA) and the State Legislative Chairperson of the MDHA in 1975 and 1976, he led the successful effort to create the Michigan Duck Stamp Act. The Michigan Duck Stamp has provided millions of dollars for wetlands conservation. He is chair of the Implementation Committee of MDHA for the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in Michigan.

Communications, Bob Marshall

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the New Orleans, La., Times-Picayune and Field and Stream magazine regular, Bob Marshall is a natural selection for the 2010 National Wetlands Achievement Award in Communications. Marshall has used his platform, both in Louisiana and nationally, to promote some of the most important issues pertaining to waterfowl. During Marshall's more than 35-year career, his willingness to address contentious issues in the sportsmen's world, such as the loss of wetland protections and the threats of natural resource development on fragile habitat, has set him apart from many of his colleagues. Marshall's continuing enthusiasm for the outdoors makes him one of the best remaining voices promoting both the traditions of waterfowling, but also the need for waterfowlers and other sportsmen to be the leaders in conserving our natural places.

Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved nearly 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.
Contact:
Lauren Oxner loxner@ducks.org 901-758-3851