ROSEMOUNT, MN. April 27, 2010 – Partnering with Flint Hills Resources (FHR) has allowed Ducks Unlimited (DU) to enhance Minnesota’s rich waterfowl traditions by protecting, restoring and managing tens of thousands of wildlife habitat acres. DU recently recognized FHR with its Benefactor Roll of Honor award for its philanthropic contributions to DU’s conservation work.
“Flint Hills Resources is one of the most generous supporters to DU’s Living Lakes Initiative,” said Ryan Heiniger, DU director of conservation programs in Minnesota. “Flint Hills is a true friend to the outdoors and a great partner in our ongoing efforts to promote and protect Minnesota’s natural habitat.”
With a current grant from FHR, DU and its partners are enhancing 6,806 acres of important waterfowl habitat on eight shallow lakes and acquiring 140 acres of new wildlife management areas. During the past 15 years, contributions from FHR have helped DU assess and manage more than 36,000 acres of wild rice on 116 lakes in northern Minnesota and permanently protect, with voluntary conservation easements, 1.5 miles of sensitive shoreline and 202 acres of wetlands and grasslands.
“Flint Hills Resources is pleased to partner with Ducks Unlimited and honored by this recent award,” said Scott Lindemann, vice president and manufacturing manager for Flint Hills Resources. “We are proud of the positive environmental impacts we’ve achieved together.”
“I admire the corporate philosophy at Flint Hills Resources to give back to the community while helping protect our environment,” Heiniger said.
The vision of DU’s Living Lakes Initiative is to establish stepping-stones of perpetually protected and managed shallow lake complexes from southern Iowa through northern Minnesota. These complexes will provide quality wetland habitat and food resources for waterfowl. The initiative will help preserve this region’s rich waterfowling heritage and support conservation of the primary source of its birds, the prairie breeding grounds.
According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, more than 2million people in Minnesota participated in wildlife watching and related recreation which generates $689 million in economic revenue from trips, equipment and related expenses. More than 85,000 Minnesotans hunt waterfowl each year which generates more than $1.9 million for habitat conservation through the purchase of state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps.
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 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.
