Photo courtesy of NC Wildlife Commission

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since the sudden and untimely death of John Pechmann the Head of the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and noted conservationist;

Pechmann received the Gov.’s Award as North Carolina’s Conservationist of the Year in 2001. He helped to increase the state’s Wildlife Endowment Fund and expand efforts by the commission to restore and conserve wildlife habitat.

Well another honor has been bestowed on him in Canada where Ducks Unlimited Canada has dedicated a marsh in his memory.

“John understood that you need to make the investment in order for conservation to work. He certainly helped us to do that here in Cumberland County,” said Marc Gloutney of Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Two years ago Pechmann visited Cumberland County and saw the potential for conservation here. His commission had already donated $15,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada but soon after their contribution soared to $50,000.

The commission in North Carolina and Ducks Unlimited Canada work together to help species that summer here in Canada and migrate south, to places like North Carolina, during the winter.

Amherst Daily

Here is what John Pechmann had to say during the December 2004 Commissioners Meeting in Raleigh where the North Carolina Wildlife Commission voted to double its support for DU Canada and wetland conservation & protecting important breeding grounds.

Wildlife Commission Chairman John Pechmann said the Commission’s investment will continue returning dividends to North Carolina many times over.
“Ducks Unlimited not only is leveraging the state’s contribution, but it’s also putting our dollars where they will do the most good for the continent’s, and North Carolina’s, waterfowl resource,” Pechmann said. “Waterfowl are a migratory resource that spend only part of their life cycle in North Carolina. It is critical that the Wildlife Commission do its part to conserve waterfowl for future generations, whether it’s on the wintering grounds in North Carolina or the breeding areas in Canada.”
The Wildlife Commission’s support of wetland and waterfowl habitat protection and restoration efforts in Canada dates back to 1969. Over the past 35 years, more than $340,000 of the Commission’s funds have been directed toward Canadian projects in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
“Ducks Unlimited has proven over the last 67 years that it is the world leader in waterfowl and wetlands conservation,” Pechmann said.

Hats off to DU Canada this is a great honor in memory of a visionary and conservationist that Mr. Pechmann certainly was.

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