The Engine of the Plan
In the summer of 1986, just months after the landmark signing of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) by Canada and the United States in May, a pivotal innovation took flight: the establishment of Joint Ventures in July. These regional partnerships were born as the engine of the Plan, designed to turn ambitious continental goals into tangible, on-the-ground action for reversing the alarming declines in waterfowl populations and their vital wetland habitats.
At their core, Joint Ventures are dynamic collaborations that unite a diverse flock of players — federal and state agencies, provinces, tribes, non-governmental organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Audubon, corporations, and passionate individuals. Operating across key landscapes like the Mississippi Flyway, the Appalachian Mountains, the Prairies, and beyond, they include habitat-focused JVs in the U.S. and Canada, as well as species-specific JVs targeting icons like Arctic geese and black ducks. Think of them as localized powerhouses, aligning with flyway councils to deliver science-driven conservation where it matters most — protecting wetlands, restoring grasslands, and managing threats like woody encroachment to keep ecosystems thriving.
A Model Built on Collaboration
What makes Joint Ventures central to NAWMP's success is their ability to foster cooperation at scale, bridging borders and sectors to pool resources, expertise, and capacity. By emphasizing partnerships, they enabled landscape-level conservation strategies that address the full range of migratory bird needs, from breeding grounds in the north to wintering habitats in the south. This collaborative model has proven effective for tackling habitat loss and population declines while integrating biological, ecological, and social sciences into management decisions.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Joint Ventures have protected millions of acres of habitat, supported waterfowl population recovery, and generated broader benefits for other wildlife, water quality, and the communities that depend on healthy landscapes for recreation and economic vitality. They have kept common species abundant, supported at-risk species, and built long-term capacity for monitoring and adaptive management across the continent.
