Ducks Unlimited Canada and Alberta Beef Producers have signed a three-year agreement to work together to “help Albertans gain a better understanding of how cattle and conservation work together.”

The deal to work on joint public awareness campaigns is an acknowledgment their work on issues such as conservation, the environment and sustainable practices is complementary and they could go further by working together, said Tom Lynch-Staunton, ABP’s government relations and policy manager.

“When Ducks Unlimited puts in projects and it is partnering with local ranchers and vice versa, we can demonstrate to the public that we can manage cattle appropriately and still keep conservation on the landscape,” said Lynch-Staunton. “I think that’s a pretty good story for the public to hear.”

It’s beneficial for the beef industry to partner with Ducks Unlimited and other environmental organizations because they can more effectively communicate their message as a united front.

“This type of partnership demonstrates that we are serious about environmental stewardship,” said Lynch-Staunton.

Ducks Unlimited and Alberta Beef Producers have already worked together on two projects. The historic Waldron Ranch in southern Alberta created a series of videos along with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Ducks Unlimited Canada. Lynch-Staunton also collaborated with Ducks Unlimited and the Royal Ontario Museum to create content that will appear in the museum’s biodiversity display. The videos, which go on display in November, will highlight the story of grasslands and conservation.