Division of Bird Habitat Conservation

20th Anniversary Facts - Photo Gallery

Safeguarding Our Waterfowl Heritage 1986 – 2006

Harvey Nelson, the first U.S. Plan Committee Co-chair, displays the 1986 Plan.

January

Informal interviews were conducted with U.S. and Canadian founders and supporters of the Plan to relive and document its early days through the eyes of its first co-chairs and members, including Harvey Nelson, Jim McCuaig, Bob Streeter, George Finney, Rollie Sparrowe, Eldridge “Red” Hunt, Dick Hopper, and Ken Wich. These gentlemen were joined by David A. Smith, John Cornely, Seth Mott, and Dave Sharp for a series of panel discussions regarding the Plan’s history and implementation.

Interview and panel discussions were videotaped at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

March

On March 8th, the Plan’s anniversary was highlighted at a meeting of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), which gives final funding approval to North American Wetlands Conservation Act projects.

MBCC members Senator Blanch Lincoln of Arkansas and Representative John Dingell of Michigan view the first poster to commemorate the Plan’s 20th Anniversary. Credit: Tami A. Heilemann. Members of the MBCC gather around the commemorative Plan anniversary poster. L- R: Dave Gagner, Special Assistant to the Chief of USDA-NRCS; Blanche Lincoln, Senator from Arkansas; John Dingell, Representative from Michigan; Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior; Ben Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, USEPA-Office of Water; and Dale Hall, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildilfe Service. Credit: Tami A. Heilemann.

The first poster in the Plan’s 2006-2008 Collector’s Series entitled “Safeguarding Our Waterfowl Heritage, 1986 – 2006” was on display at the meeting. Members also received a 20th Anniversary lapel pin attached to an educational bookmark about the Plan.

On March 10th, staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Bird Habitat Conservation and Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs visited various Members of Congress and their staff to let them know this year marks the Plan’s 20th Anniversary and to thank them for supporting the many programs and partners that help to achieve Plan conservation goals. Those visited received an educational one-page fact sheet about the Plan and a 20th Anniversary lapel pin/bookmark.

On March 14th, at the North American Wetlands Conservation Council’s meeting in Grand Island, Nebraska, members and attending staff were reminded of the upcoming Plan anniversary and each received a 20th Anniversary lapel pin/bookmark. The commemorative anniversary poster also was on display.

On March 20th, at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Columbus, Ohio, the Plan Committee hosted a reunion-style reception to celebrate the Plan’s anniversary with attendees from the international waterfowl community. Photo Gallery.

David A. Smith, U.S. Plan Committee Co-chair, pays tribute to the Plan's 20-year history and its partners. Credit: Meredith Gutowski, USFWS.

David A. Smith, U.S. Plan Committee Co-chair, welcomed the more than 250 partners in attendance and later gave a presentation that looked back on the Plan’s 20-year history and roasted/toasted its founders and significant partners, acknowledged challenges and successes, relived memorable moments, and incorporated video clips of reflections on the Plan by its founders, as recorded during the January interviews.

Steve Barry, Wetland Habitat Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, gave a short overview of the Department’s wetland conservation efforts in the State and featured the work being accomplished with other partners, including the Plan’s Upper Mississippi River – Great Lakes Region Joint Venture and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Program.

Carol Lively, former Prairie Pothole Joint Venture Coordinator, was recognized for her many years of service and dedication in helping to protect all migratory birds and their habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region. She was presented with an engraved wooden carving on behalf of joint venture coordinators past and present.

David A. Smith, Canadian Plan Committee Co-chair Steve Wendt, and Mexican Plan Committee member Eduardo Carrera announced the winners of the 2005 Plan Awards. Awards were presented to those recipients or their representatives in attendance.

Credit: Meredith Gutowski, USFWS.

Adding to the festivities of the night were the display of all three country flags; a large “Safeguarding Our Waterfowl Heritage” banner containing the three-language Plan logo; the commemorative anniversary poster; 20th Anniversary lapel pins/bookmarks; temporary tattoos of the Plan logo; clusters of blue and white balloons; and a large sheet cake decorated with the Plan logo.

From March 21 - 24th, attendees of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference received a fact sheet on the Plan’s 20th Anniversary at meetings and venues concerning migratory bird populations and habitats. A unique feature of the fact sheet is a water-ripple timeline of the Plan’s 20-year history. Printer-friendly fact sheet.

The drop that made a difference. Credit: Brima Battle, USFWS.

Also during this Conference, attendees viewed an informative and inspiring video produced by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., that touted the history and hallmarks of the Plan and the long-standing relationship between it and Ducks Unlimited partners.

April

On April 20th, the Plan’s 20th Anniversary was highlighted at the annual Junior Duck Stamp contest held in Washington, D.C. Students and adults alike enjoyed the educational material, Plan logo lapel pins, and temporary tattoos of the Plan logo that were distributed by Federal Duck Stamp Office staff. Contest judges received a special package containing the 20th Anniversary fact sheet, 20th Anniversary lapel pin/bookmark, and, of course, a temporary tattoo, too. On display at the event were a framed, signed/numbered commemorative anniversary poster and the “Safeguarding Our Waterfowl Heritage” banner with the three-language Plan logo.

May–also “National Wetlands Month”

On May 13th, Acting Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett highlights the Plan’s 20th Anniversary and joint ventures in her address at an International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebration event at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in California. The Plan’s anniversary also is highlighted on the back of the poster commemorating this year’s IMBD theme—bird conservation in the Boreal Forest.

May 14th: Happy 20th Anniversary, Plan Partners!

June

On June 1st, the Plan’s 20th Anniversary is being highlighted at the much-anticipated First Day of Sale event for the 2006-2007 Federal Duck Stamp. This event is being held in Washington, D.C., at the 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition. On display will be educational materials about the Plan, logo lapel pins, the framed and signed/numbered commemorative anniversary poster, and the “Safeguarding Our Waterfowl Heritage” banner with the three-language Plan logo.

Additionally, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is being featured on the back of the carrier for the self-adhesive 2006-2007 Federal Duck Stamp! Information about the Plan and joint ventures will reach waterfowl hunters, stamp collectors, bird conservationists, and other supporters of the Federal Duck Stamp and National Wildlife Refuge System throughout the country.

September

The Plan’s 20th Anniversary is being celebrated during “Canada Night” at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (formerly IAFWA).

/birdhabitat/NAWMP/20events.shtm was last updated 11/08/07 13:41:20

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