RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - Oct. 1, 2021 - Ducks Unlimited (DU) Engineer Forrest Downing, Regional Biologist Matt Kaminski and Regional Engineer Brett Williams received a DU Excellence in Conservation Award for their work as DU&squo;s San Joaquin Valley Conservation Team.

DU&squo;s Conservation Programs Committee (CPC) created the awards to recognize outstanding conservation accomplishments and the DU staff who made them possible. Thanks to the continued commitment of DU&squo;s staff, the organization reached an historic milestone this year, conserving more than 15 million acres.

Any extraordinary accomplishment that supports DU&squo;s conservation mission of filling the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever is eligible for recognition. The 2021 awards were announced Sept. 9, during the CPC summer meeting.

"These awards recognize Ducks Unlimited&squo;s exceptional conservation professionals and the work they do every day,&dquo; said CPC Chair Dr. Christine Thomas. "The awards were created to support morale, motivate our staff and convey the gratitude of DU supporters and volunteers.&dquo;

Downing, Kaminski and Williams received the award for more than five years of conservation work in California&squo;s San Joaquin Valley, a priority area for Ducks Unlimited&squo;s on-the-ground conservation mission.

"The greatest team of conservation professionals in the world work for Ducks Unlimited,&dquo; DU CEO Adam Putnam said. "These Excellence in Conservation Awards recognize Team DU&squo;s boots on the ground. The work these folks do enable DU to fill the skies with waterfowl and provide important benefits for people, their communities and other wildlife.&dquo;

Click here for a complete list of 2021 Ducks Unlimited Excellence in Conservation Award winners.

For more information visit www.ducks.org. Follow DU&squo;s news Twitter feed - @DUNews1937 - to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 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. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

Gregg Powers

(901) 758-3774

gpowers@ducks.org