International Conservation Plan Priorities
DUC's International Conservation Plan (ICP) goals and priorities are built around goals adopted by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP).
NAWMP has adopted the average waterfowl breeding population surveyed during the 1970s as the basis for most species’ population goals. The goals in this Plan were designed to “be sufficient to maintain populations of ducks of various species and their habitats at levels acceptable to people who use and enjoy them.”. To sustain waterfowl populations at these levels over the long-term demands that sufficient habitat be conserved in the right places. Adopting waterfowl goals and deriving habitat objectives from them is the foundation for all planning by DUC.
The International Conservation Plan (ICP) identifies and prioritizes the conservation regions most important to North American waterfowl while providing guidance for all regional habitat conservation efforts (see animated conservation map below). Priority regions in Canada are the most important waterfowl breeding areas in all of North America (Prairie Pothole Region and the Western Boreal Forest – Level 1) and critical Canadian staging and wintering areas (Pacific Coast and Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River – Level 2). To ensure DUC’s overall waterfowl goals are accomplished, DUC focuses resources and expertise in these priority areas.
