I wanted to start a separate thread for this topic because I feel the subject is too important to be buried and lost in another.

The purpose of this working group is to develop some ideas to help promote hunting as a conservation tool. These ideas will be presented to our organizations so they can act in the best interest of all hunters

Time is of the essence because of the threat posed to African wildlife due to lion and elephant bans and the imminent publication of “Lion Hearted: The Life and Death of Cecil & the Future of Africa’s Iconic Cats” by Andrew Loveridge. As conservationists we know the devastating consequences of the bans and as hunters we know about the eroding support among the general public.

So I am asking for interested AR members to join us in this working group. The group is open to any member who is interested in the promotion of our role as hunters in conservation. Whether you are a concerned hunter (as I am), an outfitter or PH or even a representative of a hunting organization. Let's start to work on a plan to showcase our unique role in conservation and improve our image so our message is heard.

If you are interested please send me a PM.

Thank you,

Jon Peterson

Anyway I can help then let me know.

I think it would be a good idea to have a rep from each African country.

Your help is certainly appreciated. I have been contacted by several people offering their assistance but so far Andrew is the only African.

Who would like to represent South Africa? Zimbabawe? Namibia? Tanzania? Mozambique?

I would have thought Lane and our Mr Jines would compliment this group.

I am in...just not "African."

Nigel Theisen, a Zimbabwean PH of 30 yrs but also with 15+ years of TZ experience, asked me to add him to the group.

nigeltheisen@gmail.com

You can add me to.

Anyway I can help to make sure our children can hunt I am more than happy to so.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am in...just not "African."

What I meant was that PHs and their respective Associations would be invaluable sources of what is going on in each country - Government/wildlife policy etc etc

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
You can add me to.

Anyway I can help to make sure our children can hunt I am more than happy to so.

Brilliant.

I am in.

I would be happy to do what I can.

Thank you gentlemen! I am humbled by your support.

I will get in touch with Nigel shortly.

And just to be clear both Africans and non Africans are welcome in the group.
We don’t discriminate

If you have me, I am in.

quote:

Originally posted by rxgremlin:
Your help is certainly appreciated. I have been contacted by several people offering their assistance but so far Andrew is the only African.

Who would like to represent South Africa? Zimbabawe? Namibia? Tanzania? Mozambique?

I am in, I could help out with Mozambique especially.

As,per my earlier PM, let me know what I can do. I'm in.

.

Mozambique i can help with i am since 1993 in Mozambique and just Mozambique, founding member of AMOS and Board Member since then. Living permanently here.

If that helps

Here is a list of members by user name who have joined so far (in no particular order)

Fairgame
ledvm
Saeed
larryshores
dogcat
Safari2
JTEX
freischuetz
dgr416
boarkiller
Mark H. Young
Marty
crbutler

If you have not done so, please send me a PM with your real name and contact info.

I've reached out to a couple of other people including Nigel Theisen.

If any member is still interested in joining, it isn't too late. I'd love to see some people from hunting organizations on this list!

On Monday we are going to start working on a plan to address the issues we face. Unfortunately time is not on our side.

I thank the above members for their support and encourage others to join and let their voices be heard.

Jon Peterson

Gavin Robinso - Chairman of the PH Association of Zambia can be contacted at gr.safaris@gmail.com

Maybe put a letter together that can be sent out?

Andrew I will do that. Lane has graciously given me the names of other people to contact as well.

quote:

Originally posted by freischuetz:
Mozambique i can help with i am since 1993 in Mozambique and just Mozambique, founding member of AMOS and Board Member since then. Living permanently here.

If that helps

Good deal Toni

In my opinion we should take some good examples of hunting based conservation from each country.

The discussion should revolve around RESULTS that have been achieved in these respective areas. Things such as:

Documented increases in game populations over time.
Investment in Anti Poaching Units and results.
Community Benefits - Schools, employment, meat drops..

As I am representing Mozambique I will propose the following successes:

1) The Zambezi Delta Coutada’s 10, 11, 14.
2) Coutada 9
3) Sabie adjacent to Kruger

Jon, I am happy to help in any way that I can. I will send you a separate PM.

I am interested in seeing what you have planned and probably participating, if the proposal is practical. wbriangallup@gmail.com

Thank you gentlemen. I'm will be working on getting some thoughts and ideas together this weekend.

I wanted to give the forum an update. We have reached out to DSC and we are starting a dialogue
with them.

This weekend I am going to develop a position paper stating who we are and what our mission is.

I am going to make a mailing list for the members and email updates as they happen.

Thank you,

Jon Peterson

[QUOTE] We have reached out to DSC and we are starting a dialogue
with them (QUOTE)

May I ask whom you are speaking with at DSC and when you reached out?

Jon, I look forward reading it. Brian

Karl, I sent you a PM.

quote:

Originally posted by rxgremlin:
I wanted to give the forum an update. We have reached out to DSC and we are starting a dialogue
with them.

This weekend I am going to develop a position paper stating who we are and what our mission is.

I am going to make a mailing list for the members and email updates as they happen.

Thank you,

Jon Peterson

Any thoughts what this group is going to be called? Do you envisage an association and a board?

Andrew, I'm brainstorming and putting thoughts down so I can come up with something concrete.

Jon:

This is a great idea.
Just make sure it's passed around everywhere and not just on A/R.

Put me down on the list too.

Good luck getting it together.
George

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of AR,

I would like announce that after today we are not accepting new members into the group. The group is now known as the African Wildlife Conservation Coalition. The reason for action is that I would like to stay small and focused at first. Later as the need arises we can add members.

An executive committee has been formed consisting of myself, Mr. Larry Shores and Dr. J. Lane Easter. Every group needs leaders and this one is no exception.

If you are interested, here is a brief precis of what we are trying to accomplish.


African Wildlife Conservation Coalition

The purpose of this group is to gather a select number of people together from different backgrounds to work towards promoting hunting as a legitimate tool for conservation. To achieve this goal we believe that we need to engage the public to demonstrate that ethical and sustainable hunting is such a tool. We also believe that our public image as hunters suffer from the actions of a comparative few. To this end we are seeking to make sure that the messages we send out to the world are consistent with what we preach.

We would like to start by addressing the lion and elephant importation bans because they are affecting conservation now. Later we will start to address the hunting culture.

We are simply concerned hunters who want our voices heard by the general public so they may better understand the plight of African wildlife.

I also wish to make clear that this group is not interested in preaching to the choir or that we individually have any financial interest in the group. We simply want to move the agenda forward; hopefully with the assistance of hunting organizations.

Thank you,

Jon Peterson

Jon,

I would personally accept any who feel that they could contribute to this group as members or associates.

One of us could easily be nominated to receive contact names and contact details etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Andrew,

I agree with your opinion but right now I want to stay focused and keep moving. Later after we flesh some things out we will reconsider.

I will say that any member can contact me with an idea and I will respond. No guarantees but I have an open mind and no agenda besides preserving wildlife and habitat in Africa.

I have compiled a roster of the members from AR
of the African Wildlife Working Group and I thank them for their support.

I have purchased the domain name www.africanwildlifecc.org so that we might have a website as things develop.

Our intention is to keep the forum updated on our progress and share important news.

To the members of the group I will be emailing out the roster shortly so we can start our work. I'm still waiting on a couple bits of missing info but once I get them I'll let you know.

Thanks

rxgremlin, Thanks for the note,

Dear AWCC members, I have sent out a test email to make sure the list is working. Please reply BY EMAIL if you have received it.

Thank you

Jon