The Value of Wetland Conservation to Waterfowl

Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist at Ducks Unlimited (DU), will discuss the importance of conserving wetlands to ensure both healthy waterfowl populations and a healthy planet.Dr. Brasher joined DU in 2005 and currently serves as Senior Waterfowl Scientist at DU’s National Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to this role, Mike served for 13 years as Biological Team Leader for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he helped identify priority waterfowl research and incorporate results into landscape-scale conservation planning. In his current position, Mike collaborates with DU staff and partners to strengthen the scientific foundation of DU’s conservation activities, ensuring that DU’s habitat work is focused on issues and places of greatest importance to continental waterfowl populations. Mike also serves as co-host of the Ducks Unlimited Podcast and assists the Communications staff with science communication priorities. Mike is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and serves on the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Science Support Team and North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee. Mike received a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science and Management from The Ohio State University (2010), and his M.S. in Wildlife Ecology (2000) and B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (1997) from Mississippi State University.