Sound science is critical to wildlife conservation. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan depends on a firm biological foundation. Arising from decades of research and evaluation, the Plan's many partner agencies develop programs that focus on conserving specific wetland areas, ensuring habitat for many wild species. Each local conservation project, no matter how small, is linked to the Plan's continental waterfowl population and habitat goals. The projects are regularly updated and modified. The biological foundation is continually strengthened through a systematic process of research and planning, implementation and evaluation. For more information, refer to the 2004 Update to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Strengthening the Biological Foundation (2.2 MB)and the 2004 NAWMP Implementation Framework.