What is NAWMP

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP or ‘the Plan’) is an international partnership to conserve abundant and resilient waterfowl populations and sustainable landscapes, through management decisions based on strong biological foundations. The plan engages the community of users and supporters committed to conservation and valuing waterfowl.

In 1986, the Canadian and United States governments signed this international partnership agreement, laying the foundation for international cooperation in the recovery of declining waterfowl populations. Mexico became a signatory to the Plan with its update in 1994. As a result, the NAWMP Partnership extends across North America, working at national and regional levels on a variety of waterfowl and habitat management issues.

Since the creation of the Plan, NAWMP partners have worked to conserve and restore wetlands, associated uplands and other key habitats for waterfowl across Canada, the United States and Mexico. The influence of the Partners has been wide ranging: shaping land-use, agricultural and public policies; integrating science and monitoring systems into planning; and delivering habitat programs. The results of these efforts are notable. Many waterfowl populations are substantially larger than they were in 1986, and NAWMP Partners have reached out to collaborate with other bird conservation initiatives.

Despite the Plan’s success, there are still many challenges ahead for waterfowl management. Shifting public values, urbanization and increasing demands for energy and water influence land use decisions with direct and indirect consequences for waterfowl and other wildlife. Declining numbers of waterfowl hunters, a traditional funding source, is also of concern for maintenance of habitat programs. The NAWMP Revision 2012 – People Conserving Waterfowl and Wetlands addresses the continuing loss of habitat, management of waterfowl populations, and engaging people who value  waterfowl and wetlands.