Sec. Zinke signs order supporting conservation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 15, 2017 - U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3356 today, supporting sportsmen, public access, wildlife management and conservation opportunities in the United States. In addition to increasing public access for hunting and fishing, the executive order specifically outlines important policies benefitting migratory waterfowl.

"On behalf of the more than one million members and supporters of Ducks Unlimited nationwide, I&squo;d like to thank Secretary Zinke for his actions today to ensure both the long-term survival of vital habitats and their use by American sportsmen and women," said Ducks Unlimited CEO Dale Hall. "Wetlands are not only a valuable resource for our nation&squo;s waterfowl, but they also benefit more than 900 other species of wildlife. Investments in the conservation of wildlife habitats, like wetlands, are vital in preserving, protecting and advancing our nation&squo;s long hunting and angling heritage. At the end of the day, it&squo;s all about ensuring that all Americans and those generations to come, have access to the wildlife and wild places that we enjoy today."

Section six of Secretarial Order 3356, is dedicated to migratory waterfowl, including expanding hunting opportunities through science-based conservation practices:
(6) significantly increase migratory waterfowl populations and hunting opportunities throughout large portions of the country by:
(a) enhancing and improving the use of voluntary perpetual grassland and wetland conservation easements;
(b) expanding habitat and water conservation/protection efforts on wintering habitats;
(c) assessing and utilizing sound science to direct the development of proposed project and/or policy proposals to enhance waterfowl production;
(d) identifying partnerships and resource opportunities; and
(e) utilizing sound scientific evidence in conjunction with landowner/stakeholder input.

In March, Zinke invited Ducks Unlimited and other sportsmen&squo;s groups to witness the signing of his first secretarial orders, which benefitted hunters, anglers, conservation and outdoor recreational opportunities. Secretarial Order 3356 now helps fulfill his previous commitment by outlining specific directives for the Department of Interior, while working with partner organizations, to help execute these policies.

In the coming months, Ducks Unlimited&squo;s volunteers, members and staff are committed to working with Secretary Zinke and his team as they work to implement these pivotal and critical priorities.

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 14 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.