IUCN is the only international observer organization in the UN General Assembly with expertise in issues concerning the environment, specifically biodiversity, nature conservation and sustainable natural resource use.
www.iucn.org/…
To any scientist concerned with wildlife the IUCN does not need introduction. They are the only official group advising the UN on issues wildlife. They began the program regulating trade in endangered species (CITES). Thier rating program for all species is the most recognised international listing of endangered species.
In response to the attempt to restrict or otherwise end trophy hunting by some members of the European Union’s Parliament the IUCN has issued an unambiguous position paper on trophy hunting. Informing decisions on trophy hunting IUCN
Removing the incentives and revenue provided by hunting would be likely to cause serious declines of populations of a number of threatened or iconic species. For example, the recovery of some populations of African Elephant, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, Cheetah and Lion in Africa, of Markhor, Argali and Urial in Asia, and of Bighorn Sheep in North America could be stopped and reversed (Case Studies 1-8). Importantly, populations of threatened species that are not hunted could also be negatively impacted, including e.g. Snow Leopard and African Wild Dog
Before anyone restricts trophy imports the IUCN suggests implementing and fully funding programs to take their place. We are talking probably hundreds of millions of dollars. I won’t hold my breath. The United States via the USFWS is currently using its’ leverage as a large source of trophy hunting revenue to persuade countries to implement a transparent and observable conservation program before the US allows trophy imports of lions from mainly Zimbabwe. And lions are dying or being culled for lack of demand.
Unfortunately the general depression of trophy hunting has already caused losses of wildlife. The Bubye Valley Conservancy which is mentioned positively in the IUCN report was supposed to cull 200 lions earlier this year. There was no mention of it in this paper. Lions are overpopulating the conservancy and eating too many other species. The Bubye holds the largest healthiest population of critically endangered black rhino in Zimbabwe. Who will pay for the protection from poachers now? Are smaller less known reserves culling all their lions? Should the land be returned to cattle?
Is the Daily Kos anti wildlife conservation? Let me put it this way, do you think Senator Inhofe is pro global warming? Of course he isn’t, he’s just uninformed and a victim of being a part of a group that for ideological reasons is opposed to restricting causes of greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Inhofe is not supportive of causing catastrophic global warming just as this web site, Daily Kos, is not supportive of causing the extinction of large species in Africa or the US. It’s simply ideological blindness. A true progressive is like a true conservative, they go with the herd.
Lately the hair on fire contingent at DK is having a grand old time demonizing a fellow Dem running for president. More power to them, hope they all choke on their hate and stay distracted for a while. I used to read a silly anti hunting clickbait article on here about every other day. Articles on a par with stories of space aliens impregnating earthlings. One story here was of the death of an American hunting guide in Africa. A lot of cheering for the death of someone who had done more for elephant conservation than anyone reading here. When one Kossack who actually had lived in Africa and worked on Elephant conservation spoke up with some knowledge in comments she was promptly derided. We at DK aren’t simply ignorant and uninformed we are prideful in our stupidity. Keep that image of Senator Inhofe in mind.
Five big myths of trophy hunting from the position paper:
• trophy hunting is the same as “canned” hunting;
• trophy hunting is illegal;
• trophy hunting is driving declines of iconic species, particularly large African mammals like elephant, rhino and lion;
• trophy hunting could readily be replaced by photographic tourism.
None of these statements is correct.
We are lucky in the US in that our wildlife managers have a long history in the benefits of hunting to conservation. Since we adopted the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation our large game populations have only increased. A truism in the US is that if you want to save a species, hunt it, because that more than anything will guarantee healthy populations.
The IUCN position paper goes on to list 10 case studies of where hunting has positive effect on conservation and livelihood. Everything from Polar bears to Black Rhinoceros. My hope is that there will be less written here on DK that is harmful to wildlife conservation. Senator Inhofe does not consider himself a bad person I’m sure.
Informing decisions on trophy hunting IUCN