Please find below a list of questions people have brought to our
attention, and corresponding answers and explanations. If you would like
further clarification on any of these topics or have additional questions,
please e-mail them to us at info@ducks.org.
Your continued support of Ducks Unlimited is greatly appreciated
and we value your comments and opinions. We take careful consideration
of all comments we receive.
Answer: Event, dinner, and membership dollars are NOT
used to purchase property for the Grasslands
for Tomorrow Initiative. Money for land acquisitions comes from special
capital gifts given for the purpose of purchasing land. If you would
like to contribute toward this work, please contact Joe Satrom at jsatrom@ducks.org or
701-355-3500.
Answer: No, in fact priority is given to state and federal
agencies interested in a property. While some tracts of land will be
sold to conservation buyers, DU has sold most of the
land purchased and restored to-date to state and federal wildlife agencies.
Additionally, 'private ownership' does not always mean it is being sold
to sportsmen or hunting interests. For instance, one tract in South Dakota
was sold to a local rancher for long-term stewardship. In all cases, DU ensures
the conservation values of the land are permanently protected before
selling to any buyer.
Answer: When DU offers land to conservation
buyers via its auction site, anyone can submit a bid to buy the property.
Paramount in the plans for the land sales is that no individual be given
preference. Several things go into making sure this is the case. First, DU has
created the Conservation Land Directory, which is an auction-based system
that allows individuals to bid on property that is being offered up for
sale. The auction format is a fair and open way to ensure that DU does
not show favoritism and that land is sold for, at minimum, fair market
value.
Answer: Before DU sells land, conservation
easements are placed upon the property, which perpetually protect the
conservation values and character of the property. All wetlands are protected
by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) wetland easements, preventing
wetlands from being drained and degraded. Both native and restored prairies
are protected with USFWS grassland easements, which prevent the land
from being plowed, and restrict haying until on or after July 15th of
every year. Grazing is permitted at any time, however DU tries
to work with buyers to establish good grazing practices.
Answer: A science-based approach is used to identify
lands that DU might consider purchasing. Areas with
the potential for high densities of breeding ducks and large tracts of
remaining grassland are preferred. DU also purchases
land that already provides valuable waterfowl habitat, but is at high-risk
of cultivation or development.
DU purchases land as a last resort. DU would
rather see landowners enroll their land in permanent grassland and wetland
easement programs, foregoing the need for DU to purchase
the land. However, there are times when the landowners choose not to
place easements on their land and, instead, choose to sell their property.
If the land contains valuable waterfowl habitat, DU may
contact the landowner to make an offer for the land. In other cases the
landowner contacts DU. DU normally
pays full market price for the land, based on an independent appraisal.
Answer: Yes, people can, and do, donate land to DU.
People often bequeath land to DU in their wills, or give land to DU for
conservation or tax purposes. Additionally, non-conservation properties,
buildings, and other assets can be donated to DU. Ducks
Unlimited then sells those assets and uses the proceeds for
work in high priority areas for waterfowl.
Answer:DU plans to advertise future
sales in the DU Magazine and one can always visit the
Conservation Land Directory page at http://prairie.ducks.org/cld/listings.html or
follow the Land Sale link at www.ducks.org to
view current and upcoming sales.
Please find below a list of questions people have brought to our
attention, and corresponding answers and explanations. If you would like
further clarification on any of these topics or have additional questions,
please e-mail them to us at 