A word of introduction to this post from PennFuture President and CEO Cindy Dunn....
PennFuture is proud to be the Pennsylvania state affiliate of National Wildlife Federation. We work closely with NWF on a number of initiatives: slowing climate change, pressing for cleaner waterways, as well as preserving and protecting wild places and the wildlife that lives there.
We're delighted to share a big success that NWF helped secure in Washington recently — and some of the back story of what a duck stamp is, and why it matters to Pennsylvanians.
NWF CEO Collin O'Mara shared this piece with us, and I'd like to share it with all of you:
"The Senate recently passed H.R. 5069, the Federal Duck Stamp Act, which is a huge win for wildlife conservation. The bill increases the price of duck stamps from $15 to $25 and will generate additional dedicated funding for wetland conservation.
The National Wildlife Federation and our fantastic state affiliates strongly supported the price increase, as did the hunting community at large. The bill already passed the House so it is on to President Obama’s desk to be signed.
Duck stamps are licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl and also serve as an entrance pass for national wildlife refuges and are bought by hunters and birders alike. More importantly, these stamps are one of the most critical tools for the conservation of wetlands, wildlife, and natural resources—ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. (Pennsylvania has three national refuges: John Heinz, Cherry Valley, and Erie.)
National Wildlife Federation’s founder J.N. “Ding” Darling conceived of the idea of using Duck Stamps to raise money for the purchase of wetlands and he also illustrated the very first stamp. It's a great example of conservationists coming together to fund critical conservation (the North American conservation model in action). Since 1934, over $800 million has been generated to preserve over 6 million acres of critical wetlands habitat in the United States as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Wildlife refuges not only serve as habitat for ducks and geese, but they provide countless benefits such as flood mitigation, water filtration, and habitat for more than 700 bird species, 220 mammals, 250 reptiles and amphibians, more than 1,000 fish species, and one-third of endangered or threatened species. Refuge visitor spending also generates billions of dollars every year for local communities.
As the Duck Stamp celebrates its 80th anniversary, its buying power has never been lower. The price of the Duck Stamp was last increased 23 years ago in 1991, and since then the price of land has tripled. Even though this bill does restrict the revenue generated from the $10 increase from being direct to fee-title land acquisition, the base price of $15 can still be used for land acquisition and the extra revenue can be used for conservation easements.
At a difficult political time in Washington, we're delighted to see this renewed source of funding for wetlands across the country."
Collin O'Mara is the President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation, and is based in Reston, VA. Follow him @Collin_OMara.
