For 89 years, Ducks Unlimited has raised public awareness about the benefits of wetlands
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Jan. 30, 2026 – On Monday, Feb. 2, Ducks Unlimited (DU) and conservationists around the world will celebrate World Wetlands Day to recognize the importance of wetlands for people and wildlife. This year’s theme is “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage.”
In 1937, a small group of waterfowlers, visionaries and community leaders set out to save North America’s waterfowl populations while celebrating the continent’s solid waterfowling heritage. Stressing the critical role wetlands play across North America, DU committed to this mission at the height of the Great Depression and one of the worst droughts in history.
“Ducks Unlimited was founded by hunters in 1937, and hunters continue to make up the backbone of our membership,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “On World Wetlands Day, it’s important to recognize that hunters have long been among our most dedicated conservationists and steadfast guardians of our sporting heritage and traditions. Thanks to the unwavering commitment of these sportsmen and women, along with the hard work of our members, volunteers, partners, and supporters, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 19 million acres of wetlands and waterfowl habitat across North America.”
For 89 years, DU has raised public awareness about the benefits wetlands provide as waterfowl habitats and critical natural water filters. Wetlands provide numerous services to our communities, including flood storage, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration and enhanced fish habitat, among others.
DU is in the midst of its most ambitious conservation campaign in history on behalf of North America’s wetlands and waterfowl. The international fundraising campaign, Conservation for a Continent, aims to raise $3 billion to provide cleaner water for communities and wildlife. One of the largest fundraising efforts launched in North America is devoted to landscape conservation and the future of our outdoor heritage.
“For the second year in a row, and the second time ever, Ducks Unlimited surpassed one million acres of conservation in a single year,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop. “Every acre of wetlands and other waterfowl habitats has a profound impact, not just on wildlife, but on nearby communities. From reduced flooding and cleaner water to increased biodiversity and more outdoor recreation opportunities, wetlands benefit people and wildlife in equal measure, and we’re eager to continue delivering critical, on-the-ground habitat across the landscape.”
World Wetlands Day emphasizes the importance of conservation solutions for these beautiful and critical landscape features. The day commemorates the Feb. 2, 1971, signing of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran. Each year since the first celebration in 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations and citizens representing all segments of society have used the anniversary to raise public awareness of the values and benefits of wetlands.
DU, along with the help and support of its 715,000 volunteers, supporters and partners, is conserving prairie potholes and native grasslands in the Great Plains, restoring bottomland hardwood forests in the lower Mississippi River Valley, protecting and enhancing the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and protecting and improving wetland habitats in California’s Central Valley, the coastal prairies of Texas and the coastal marshes of Louisiana, and much more.
For more information about World Wetlands Day, visit https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation for a Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
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