H.C.R. 9

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 75TH
2 ANNIVERSARY OF DUCKS UNLIMITED
3 2012 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
6 Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the 75th
11 Anniversary of Ducks Unlimited.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . recognizes the 75th Anniversary of Ducks Unlimited and its great efforts in habitat
15 conservation.
16 Special Clauses:
17 None
18
19 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
20 WHEREAS, Ducks Unlimited is widely recognized for its wetland conservation efforts;
21 WHEREAS, a year-long celebration begins January 29, 2012, when Ducks Unlimited
22 celebrates its 75th anniversary;
23 WHEREAS, Ducks Unlimited began in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North
24 America's drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows;
25 WHEREAS, determined not to allow the continent's waterfowl to dwindle beyond
26 recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form Ducks Unlimited with the
27 mission of habitat conservation;

28 WHEREAS, thanks to decades of diligence in pursuing its mission, Ducks Unlimited is
29 now the world's largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation
30 organization;
31 WHEREAS, Ducks Unlimited is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series
32 of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities, and
33 other entities;
34 WHEREAS, waterfowl are not the only beneficiaries of Ducks Unlimited habitat work,
35 as wetlands improve the overall health of the environment by recharging and purifying
36 groundwater, moderating floods, and reducing soil erosion;
37 WHEREAS, wetlands are nature's most productive ecosystems, providing critical
38 habitat to more than 900 wildlife species and invaluable recreation opportunities for people to
39 enjoy;
40 WHEREAS, the United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands and
41 continues to lose more than 80,000 acres of wetlands each year;
42 WHEREAS, Ducks Unlimited is a grassroots, volunteer-based organization, and its
43 members are conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts who live primarily throughout the
44 United States, Canada, and Mexico;
45 WHEREAS, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, Ducks Unlimited volunteers
46 hosted more than 5,200 grassroots fund-raising events, spent the funds raised on its highest
47 priority areas, and used them to leverage additional funds from other sources; and
48 WHEREAS, the work of conservation goes on, and Ducks Unlimited has made
49 enormous contributions to the effort:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
51 Governor concurring therein, recognize the 75th Anniversary of Ducks Unlimited and its great
52 efforts in habitat conservation.
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Ducks
54 Unlimited.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-20-12 3:18 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel