VICTORIA - Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has received $40,000 from the Province to continue its work on developing a biodiversity strategy for British Columbia, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today.

"Ducks Unlimited has made some huge contributions to preserving wetland habitat here in B.C. and across Canada," said Penner. "The quality of the work the organization undertakes is outstanding and we're more than happy to contribute to their continuing participation in this partnership."

The biodiversity strategy will provide provincial, regional and local governments, industry, conservation organizations and communities with a range of tools to conserve ecosystems, as well as species and their habitat. The initiative supports the ministry's commitment to the BC Trust for Public Lands and its strategic shift from sole protector of the environment to shared stewardship.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private, non-profit organization that has been committed to wetland conservation for more than 65 years. As much as 70 per cent of Canada's original wetlands have been lost in some areas of the country.

"Through science and the work of the very best wetland scientists, Ducks Unlimited has developed conservation programs that will help save our wetlands for tomorrow," said Neil Downey, president of Ducks Unlimited Canada. "Helping to develop a biodiversity strategy for B.C. is a natural extension of the work we do, and this money will help us achieve that goal."

DUC's conservation efforts take many forms. On-the-ground work is guided by the wetland and environmental research of its scientists. Ducks Unlimited works to change policy in favour of wetland and habitat conservation, and also delivers wetland and environmental education programs to teach Canadians about wetlands and the need to conserve them.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is a member of Biodiversity BC's steering committee, along with a number of governmental and non governmental agencies and organizations. Biodiversity is defined as the variety of living things, the ecosystems in which they live and the ways they interact with each other - continually adapting in order to survive under constantly changing conditions.

For more information on Ducks Unlimited Canada, visit: www.ducks.ca/index.html