Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust has received the National Blue-winged Teal Award for its contribution to migratory waterfowl and wetland species conservation.
The award was presented at the trust's Raptors & Roots Summer Solstice fundraiser, held last month at Roddick's century-old barn on Westham Island. Les Bogdan (Ducks Unlimited Canada) and Barry Smith (Environment Canada) presented the award to trust chair Mary Taitt and program co-ordinator David Bradbeer.
The Blue-winged Teal Award was created through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
"The North American Waterfowl Management Plan, which is signed by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, has been in place since 1986," said Smith, regional director for the Pacific Yukon region of the Canadian Wildlife Service and chair of the B.C.
Pacific Coast Joint Venture, a group created to implement the management plan. "It relies on partners, such as the DF&WT, to help achieve its goal of returning waterfowl populations to their 1970s levels by conserving wetland and upland habitat."
"This award is very prestigious and proves that not only is DF&WT providing significant benefits to bird habitat regionally, but they are a role model for other agriculture-conservation partnerships across Canada," said Smith.
