FRIENDS of the TAY WATERSHED Association P.O. Box 2065 57 Foster Street Perth, ON, K7H 3M9 E-mail: info@tayriver.org Website: www.tayriver.org

Press Release   (for release February 3, 2008) 

“Ducks Unlimited To Present Their Wetlands Conservation Program”

Eastern Region Director Jamie Fortune Will Address ‘Perspectives on Water’ Series

7:30pm, February 13^th, PDCI Library, Perth

Up to 70 Percent of Canada’s original wetland has been lost in various areas of our country – with substantial impact on our environment, including the habitat of countless wildlife species.  Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is a Canadian leader in addressing this problem, with a major wetland conservation program in this region based on strategic management of available water resources.  To accomplish this, DUC volunteers and staff manage almost 98% of the water-taking permits in the Tay watershed alone. 

On Wednesday, February 13, at the Perth & District Collegiate Library, at 7:30pm, DUC’s Director of Operations for the Eastern Region, Jamie Fortune, will be explaining how this program works – what DUC does with the water-taking permits - and why this major program is a good thing for the Tay watershed.

Ducks Unlimited has been working in Canada since 1937 to maintain our wetlands for the preservation of waterfowl, through research, education, policy development and direct active programs, delivered by volunteers and full-time staff.  It is a non-profit organisation, relying on a range of fund-raising activities and donations.

A native of Mississippi Mills, Jamie Fortune was Director of Programs for Wildlife Habitat Canada and an Extension Specialist and Stewardship Coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.  In Jamie’s words – “Lanark County is one of the best places to live in Canada.  Many of us are concerned about the state of our environment and the myriad of issues that it faces.  To be successful in conserving our "Natural Capital", citizens and their organizations must be engaged.  Amongst other things, I will be discussing what more can be done to protect and improve the quality of the environment in Lanark County and beyond.”

This address is the second of the speaker series “Perspectives on Water”, presented by the Friends of the Tay Watershed to inform and promote discussion about current issues and challenges facing our water resources.  The first of these sessions, at the ‘Friends’ annual Watershed Discovery Evening, presented a ‘First Nation View of the Land and Water’, by Paula Sherman.  It is envisaged that future sessions will address such themes as the export of Canada’s water, privatization of water supplies, and water resource ownership, amongst others.  Watch this medium for announcements.

Perth & District Collegiate Institute Library is located at 13 Victoria St., in Perth (South Entrance).

There is no charge for FoTW members; non-members admission is $5.

For further information visit www.tayriver.org or call Colin Stephenson (613-264-2609)