Memphis is made vibrant by its green spaces and the wildlife that inhabit them. Those spaces exist, and wildlife populations persist thanks, in part, to the organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving them, including Ducks Unlimited and Wolf River Conservancy, both of which are headquartered in the 901.
From Ducks Unlimited’s work conserving more than 20 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America to Wolf River Conservancy’s work planting more than 60,000 trees and protecting upwards of 20,000 acres of land, the impact these organizations are making locally and the examples being set on a national stage should make any Memphian proud!
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. While they are headquartered in Memphis — a vital flyway for many waterfowl — their work extends across North America, and they believe in collaboration, strategically and purposefully partnering with organizations who share common goals and values.
Wolf River Conservancy is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the Wolf River and its watershed as a sustainable natural resource. Not only do they do work to protect local lands, they also connect the community to the great outdoors through recreationand volunteer opportunities.
Recently, Ducks Unlimited stepped up to work with Wolf River Conservancy to acquire and protect 767 acres of the most ecologically valuable land in the region, benefitting wildlife, the Memphis Sands Aquifer, and Memphians looking for new recreational opportunities. Did you know Memphis and the surrounding area are full of opportunities for outdoor recreation, on land and on the water?
What makes the property so unique? The property is ecologically important on its own, but it was the missing puzzle piece to connect 5,800 acres of protected land, including 14 miles of the Wolf River — a major win for both organizations and for conservation as a whole.
“Conservation is a team sport. None of us can do this alone. It takes multiple partners. It takes thinking outside the box. It takes being creative, but it's all through partnerships, and those can be other partners like us, conservation organizations, but it can also be state partners, local partners, federal partners.”
Want to hear more about the impactful collaboration between Ducks Unlimited and Wolf River Conservancy and how you can enjoy it? Listen to this conversation with Dr. Karen Waldrop and Ryan Hall on Meanwhile in Memphis!
Hear from real leaders making a real impact in Memphis each week on the Meanwhile in Memphis podcast, airing on Tuesdays at 8am on WYXR 91.7 FM and streaming wherever you prefer to listen podcasts.
Great cities need great leaders, and New Memphis builds them. New Memphis is a nonprofit leadership development organization that infuses Memphis with leaders who are passionate about positive community change and have the skills needed to take action. New Memphis’ leadership development programs inspire thought, connection, action, and civic engagement, helping participants find meaningful ways to use their talents and networks to be effective city advocates at any point in their careers — from the college classroom to the C-Suite executive.
