United States Department of the Interior                                        FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE                                                   Washington, D.C. 20240

SUBJECT: North American Waterfowl Management Plan Update

A. Policy:  The United States affirms the vision of the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan (NPI #96-04) to recover waterfowl populations by restoring and managing wetland ecosystems, to conserve biological diversity in the western hemisphere, to integrate wildlife conservation with sustainable economic development, and to promote partnerships of public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals for conservation. With this Update (Appendix), the United States renews its commitment in this continental effort to restore North America's waterfowl and wetland resources.

B. PRINCIPLES:

1. Wetlands and waterfowl are among North America's most highly valued natural heritages.

2. All uses of the waterfowl resource should be consistent with its long-term conservation.

3. Maintenance of abundant waterfowl populations is dependent on the long-term protection, restoration, and management of habitat on an ecosystem basis. Persistent loss of important wetlands and associated uplands throughout North America must be reversed.

4. Protection of waterfowl populations and their habitats in North America requires long-term planning and close cooperation, and coordination of ongoing and future management activities by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

5. Population and habitat objectives for waterfowl will be met through long-term actions while maintaining or enhancing other ecological values and promoting biological diversity on a landscape basis.

6. Joint ventures of private organizations, individuals, and government agencies are the primary vehicle for implementing the Plan.

7. Waterfowl population responses to habitat conservation actions will be gradual and will take time to measure as the Plan seeks to overcome 200 years of habitat degradation in North America.

8. Managed subsistence and recreational harvests of the renewable waterfowl resource are consistent with its conservation and will continue to be managed under regulatory processes in Canada, the United States, and Mexico to ensure they are compatible with waterfowl population needs and with attaining goals under the plan.

C. IMPLEMENTATION: See  661 FW 1,  2,  3,  4 .

D. INCORPORATION: This issuance incorporates the 1994 Update to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan into the National Policy Issuance system. The Update was signed by the Minister of the Environment (Canada), the Secretary of the Interior (United States), and the Secretario de Desarrollo Social (Mexico) on May 9, 1994

Date:  15 Nov 96                                                             Bruce Blanchard
                                                                                        Deputy Director - Staff

This appendix is available as a separate PDF file.  Click here ->  to open file.