The $25 stamp has raised greater than $1.2 billion for habitat conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Geese Limitless (DU) and Bass Professional Outlets hosted a reside occasion Friday, June 28, at Bass Professional Outlets in Hanover, Maryland, celebrating the primary day of sale for the 2024-25 Federal Duck Stamp.
The stamps, which price $25 and lift about $40 million for conservation yearly, are legitimate from July 1, 2024, via June 30, 2025.
Bought by hundreds of thousands of waterfowl hunters, wildlife fans and stamp collectors yearly, duck stamps present essential funding to buy and defend wetlands and related habitat for geese, geese and different wildlife species.
The Federal Duck Stamp program raises hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to buy and defend wetland habitat within the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, benefiting waterfowl and lots of of extra wildlife species. Of each greenback spent on a duck stamp, 98 cents of every buy goes on to buying and defending waterfowl habitat.
DU Senior Waterfowl Scientist Dr. Mike Brasher and DU Regional Vice President John Notarangelo spoke at Friday’s occasion.
“Duck stamps are a good way for hunters, birders, photographers or anyone who loves the outside to spend money on wetland and waterfowl conservation,” stated Brasher. “Whether or not you hunt or not, purchase a number of duck stamps yearly to assist preserve our wetlands. The First Day of Sale is an ideal alternative to have a good time the season and say thanks to artists and everybody who helps and delivers wildlife conservation.”
The 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Chook Looking and Conservation Stamp, generally referred to as the duck stamp, options Montana artist Chuck Black’s successful oil portray of a northern pintail.
The 2024-2025 Junior Duck Stamp options the picture of a king eider created by 17-year-old Emily Lian of Oregon. Greater than 3,000 junior duck stamps are offered yearly for $5 every to assist promote conservation schooling via artwork.
“Right here in Maryland, historic refuges like Blackwater and Japanese Neck have tremendously benefitted from duck stamp gross sales,” stated Notarangelo. “The Chesapeake has a long-standing waterfowling heritage, practically dropped at its knees because of the darkish days of market gunning. The stamp and the refuges it funds helped carry waterfowl again from the brink, and right this moment, geese and geese are thriving right here.”
Because the Federal Duck Stamp was created in 1934, gross sales have raised greater than $1.2 billion, conserving greater than 6 million acres of habitat for birds and wildlife and offering looking and different leisure alternatives at nationwide wildlife refuges.
“I’m honored to be among the many first folks to purchase the 2024-2025 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps,” stated USFWS Director Martha Williams. “I hope everybody throughout the nation will be part of me in placing their stamp on wetland conservation and celebrating the artists who’ve devoted their ardour in the direction of wildlife and the nice outdoor.”
Geese Limitless has conserved, protected and restored 18 million acres since its founding in 1937. For the primary time in its 87-year historical past, Geese Limitless delivered 1 million acres of conservation throughout North America in Fiscal Yr 2024 because of greater than one million supporters and companions together with non-public landowners, hunters, firms, main donors, state and federal companies.
These acres of conservation – concerning the space of Rhode Island – embrace long-term and everlasting tasks, akin to conservation restorations and easements, and short-term or annual efforts, akin to agricultural cowl crop applications, in addition to new and revisited challenge websites.
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older are required to buy and carry a duck stamp whereas looking. A duck stamp additionally offers free admission to nationwide wildlife refuges (NWRs) open to the general public. Duck stamps are offered nationwide at put up workplaces, NWRs, and sporting items shops. It’s also possible to buy digital variations of the duck stamp on-line. Click on right here for extra data.
Geese Limitless Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit group devoted to conserving North America’s regularly disappearing wetlands and grasslands and different waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Geese Limitless has restored or protected greater than 18 million acres because of contributions from greater than one million supporters throughout the continent. Guided by science, DU’s tasks profit waterfowl, wildlife and folks in all 50 states. DU is rising its mission via a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent complete marketing campaign. Study extra at www.geese.org.
