The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) is an international partnership to conserve waterfowl populations and sustainable landscapes through actions based on strong biological foundations. The Plan engages supporters committed to conservation and valuing waterfowl, and people and organizations well-placed to conserve and manage the wetlands upon which these species depend.
In 1986, the Canadian and United States governments signed this international partnership agreement, laying the foundation for international cooperation in the recovery of declining waterfowl populations. Mexico became a signatory to the Plan with its update in 1994. As a result, the NAWMP Partnership extends across North America, working at international, national and regional levels on a variety of waterfowl and habitat management issues.
Since the creation of the Plan, NAWMP partners have worked to conserve and restore wetlands, associated uplands and other key habitats for waterfowl across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The influence of the Partners has been wide ranging: shaping land-use, agricultural and public policies; integrating science and monitoring systems into planning; and delivering habitat conservation programs. The results of these efforts are notable. Many waterfowl populations are substantially larger than they were in 1986, and NAWMP Partners have reached out to collaborate with other wildlife conservation initiatives.
For more information about this program and its many partnerships, visit the NAWMP website.
New NAWMP Projects Funded by Environment Canada in 2014-15
Agricultural Stewardship for Migratory Birds in the Fraser River Delta
Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust (DFWT) conducts agricultural stewardship in the Fraser River delta, a critical wintering and migration stopover site for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds along the southern Pacific Coast of British Columbia. DFWT programs cost-share with farmers to fund soil management practices (e.g., winter cover crops, grassland set asides and hedgerow planting) that provide habitat for migratory birds and species at risk, as well as soil benefits for farmers.
Environment Canada contribution: $250,000 over five years
Priority Grasslands Analysis Methodology for habitat planning and conservation in the Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture
The Grasslands Conservation Council (GCC) completed the only comprehensive mapping of the grasslands in British Columbia (B.C.) in 2003. This information is used extensively by Environment Canada (EC) and others for species at risk (SAR) and habitat planning activities. These grassland data layers will be updated to reflect losses from development and then used to identify priority habitats for grassland birds. The GCC will refine and update its unique “Grassland Portfolios” and create new grassland portfolios for the North Okanagan and Cariboo regions of BC, modifying them to include data on the Bird Conservation Region (BCR) Strategy for this area, priority bird species and federal species at risk (SAR). This data will be used to help prioritize Intermountain Joint Venture activities for all birds.
Environment Canada contribution: $20,000
Delivering the North American Waterfowl Management Plan program through the Pacific Coast and Canadian Intermountain Joint Ventures
Funding for the Pacific Coast and Canadian Intermountain Joint Ventures will help deliver NAWMP objectives in British Columbia by supporting key planning, data collection, analysis and evaluation activities that form the basis of conservation actions as prescribed in the CIJV and PCJV Implementation Plans, which include securing, managing and enhancing priority wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and waterbirds.
Environment Canada contribution: $375,000 over five years
Kootenay Conservation Program
The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) is a collaboration that facilitates the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat on private land, and generates the support and resources needed to maintain and restore the natural resilience of ecosystems in the Kootenay region of British Columbia (BC). Funding will help the KCP conserve biodiversity on the working landscapes of the East and West Kootenays.
Environment Canada contribution: $100,000 over five years
Vancouver Island Conservation Land Management Program
The Vancouver Island Conservation Land Management Program (VICLMP) is an innovative strategic partnership program that manages over 60 conservation areas within the Pacific Coast Joint Venture (PCJV).This 15 year-long partnership includes non-government conservation organizations – such as The Nature Trust of BC and Ducks Unlimited Canada as well as federal and provincial wildlife agencies – which cooperatively manage many coastal wetlands and estuaries owned by the partners.
Environment Canada contribution: $100,000 over five years.
North American Waterfowl Management Plan Program Delivery through the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture by Ducks Unlimited Canada
This project delivers habitat conservation in Alberta and Saskatchewan through protection, restoration, management, and stewardship of high priority areas identified by the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) Implementation Plan. A science-based Decision Support System (DSS) helps to guide implementation plans by identifying the highest priority habitat targets. Funding will be used to complete fee simple acquisitions, conservation easements, landowner agreements, wetland and upland restoration projects, land management projects, extension programs, and grazing programs, support policy initiatives and scientific studies.
Environment Canada contribution: $614,000
North American Wetlands Conservation Council / North American Waterfowl Management Plan Conservation Activities
Under this annual contribution agreement, Ducks Unlimited Canada will manage a national database of North American Waterfowl Management Plan accomplishments, prepare communications products and undertake international coordination, including liaising with key partner agencies, like the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, in the United States and Mexico. This project will enable Ducks Unlimited Canada to support the goals, strategies and activities of the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada) and to support Canada's obligations under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Environment Canada Contribution: $180,000
North American Waterfowl Management Plan Program Delivery in Manitoba through the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture by Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation
This project delivers habitat conservation in Manitoba through protection, restoration, management, and stewardship of high priority habitat in targeted landscapes as identified in the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) Implementation Plan. Funding would be used to support fee simple acquisitions, conservation easements, landowner agreements, wetland and upland restoration projects, land management projects, and extension programs.
Environment Canada contribution: $260,000
Activities in Support of the Implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan - Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, Sea Duck Joint Venture, and Black Duck Joint Venture
This agreement will enable the analysis of essential monitoring data in Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV), Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV), and Black Duck Joint Venture (BDJV) areas. Specific activities will include the analysis of SDJV telemetry data and preparation of related summary reports; identification of key sites along the migratory route for sea ducks; evaluation of common eider dispersal; analysis of EHJV population objectives; support for BDJV research.
Environment Canada contribution: $60,000
Implementation of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture in Atlantic Canada
This agreement will support activities within the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture in Atlantic Canada. These activities will include the analysis of forested wetlands and support for the Tantramar Wetlands Centre in New Brunswick; agricultural stewardship and evaluation of eider nesting in Nova Scotia; coastal land securement and youth water fowl and wetland workshops in Prince Edward Island, and; a wetland mapping pilot project in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Environment Canada contribution: $149,000
Delivering the North American Waterfowl Management Plan program in eastern Canada through the Ontario Eastern Habitat Joint Venture
Funding will support activities in the Ontario Eastern Habitat Joint venture including land acquisition, conservation easements, the installation of water control structures and measures to control vegetation in wetlands.
Environment Canada contribution: $263,000
Effective Land Use Policy and Communication Initiatives to support North American Waterfowl Management Plan objectives through Wildlife Habitat Canada
Wildlife Habitat Canada is an important policy, communications, and coordination partner of NAWMP in the Prairies. Funding will support a structured approach to advance and support effective public and private sector policies that contribute to NAWMP / PHJV objectives.
Environment Canada contribution: $41,000
Monitoring of the Greater Snow Goose population and its habitat on Bylot Island in Nunavut in order to manage this overabundant population
The Greater Snow Goose has been considered an overabundant species since 1998. The information gathered from this study site will be provide an early signal to government agencies, municipalities, non-governmental organizations of a potential demographic explosion in the goose population and allow necessary population management measures to be taken as quickly as possible in Canada and the United States.
Environment Canada contribution: $190,000 over four years
Delivering the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) in Eastern Canada through the Quebec Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV)
Funding will support the conservation of priority habitats for waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans) through various conservation actions in key landscapes identified as part of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) in Quebec.
Environment Canada contribution: $600,000 over three years
North American Waterfowl Management Plan Program Delivery in Saskatchewan through the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture by Water Security Agency
Funding will support habitat conservation through protection, restoration, management and stewardship in high priority habitat in priority Prairie Habitat Joint Ventures areas within Saskatchewan’s wetlands. The project directly supports the PHJV’s primary goals: 1) Stop further wetland loss, 2) Restore lost wetlands, and 3) Stop further loss of native grasslands. Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency is the lead for overall coordination of the NAWMP-PHJV program in Saskatchewan and an important habitat delivery partner.
Environment Canada contribution: $140,000
Crop Damage Prevention Program in Saskatchewan by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation
Waterfowl Crop Damage Prevention (CDP) Program Delivery is focused on chronic waterfowl damage areas in Saskatchewan. The importance of this program is directly linked to meeting the goals and objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV). Landowner support for conservation programs is critical to their success. Farmers should not run undue, unmitigated risk from visits by large numbers of feeding waterfowl as a consequence of success of the government’s programs for waterfowl population conservation. Crop Damage Prevention is delivered through permanent feeding stations and lure crops, temporary lure crops purchased in response to severe damage conditions, and scare cannon operations.
Environment Canada contribution: $94,339
