All Media: For Immediate Release
April 16, 2009

Safari Club International Foundation to Represent Hunters at Critical Meeting on Wildlife Trade

Washington, DC – Next week the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) will represent hunters at the 24th meeting of the Animals Committee for the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to ensure that decisions on trade for species of interest to traveling hunters, notably the African Lion, Elephant and Leopard, are based on science and the principles of sustainable use and not on the agenda of anti-hunting organizations.

“It is critical that the SCIF’s conservation efforts are represented before the greater international community participating in these meetings,” said Conservation Committee Chair Joseph Hosmer. “Efforts by SCIF to underwrite programs, such as with the African Lion in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and others, ensure that hunting and trade of lions continues as long as this trade is responsible and non-detrimental to the species.”

At the five-day meeting, participants will discuss the overall trends in trade of wildlife. From these discussions, participants will make recommendations to reevaluate trade quotas and trade regulations which may affect international hunters. “Certain species are constantly at the center of international trade discussion, and there are groups with protectionist agendas who will attempt to maximize trade restrictions. SCIF provides reason and scientific perspective to refute these protectionist arguments,” said Hosmer.

“As the largest international organization representing hunters, SCI and the SCIF need to participate in this critical discussion on the international trade of wildlife,” said President Merle Shepard. “SCIF’s years of continual work on lion management is further evidence that hunters are the most dedicated and passionate conservationists around the world.”

Safari Club International Foundation has been representing hunters at the Animals Committee since 1992. Only persons who can demonstrate an expertise in science, nature conservation, or trade and sustainable use are allowed to participate in the Animals Committee meetings. Since the late 1990’s, the SCIF has been represented by its Conservation Department’s professional wildlife biologist staff.

The CITES Animals Committee is meeting next week, April 20-24th in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 150 Governments, Inter-Governmental Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations will be participating in the discussion on sustainable use and the significant trade of wildlife.

Contact:
Nelson Freeman
Safari Club International
(202) 543-8733
Nfreeman@safariclub.org

The SCI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services, including such programs as Sportsmen Against Hunger, Sensory Safari, Safari Care, Disabled Hunter, the American Wilderness Leadership School, Becoming an Outdoors Woman & More and Youth Education Seminars (YES) Outdoors. Call 877-877-3265 or visit www.sci-foundation.org for more.
 
SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and
in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI's 187 Chapters represent
all 50 of the United States as well as 18 other countries. SCI's proactive
leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education
and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups,
research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing
community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation.
Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or
call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

Well this is just more window dressing and this is SCIF not SCI, what have they done lately in the way of spending monies in Africa.

I would just like to thank SCI for all they have done representing me since 1992.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Well this is just more window dressing and this is SCIF not SCI, what have they done lately in the way of spending monies in Africa.

"Next week the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) will represent hunters at the 24th meeting of the Animals Committee for the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to ensure that decisions on trade for species of interest to traveling hunters, notably the African Lion, Elephant and Leopard, are based on science and the principles of sustainable use and not on the agenda of anti-hunting organizations."

Sending a delegation of biologists and lobbyists to Geneva -- one of the world's most expensive cities -- for a five-day conference is not free. I, for one, am glad that SCI has a non-profit conservation arm to represent my interests at CITES, IUCN and other international meetings.

Bill Quimby

Thanks Bill for the update. Just another example of what SCI/SCIF does for not only it's members but the entire hunting World. I am sure some who post here will downplay this important meeting. If SCI is not spending monies in "their" home town or "their" Country they will come up with something to discredit the efforts.

Bill - FYI, DOJ is just up to his tongue in cheek ploys again. He knows what's coming so just trying to stay one jump ahead of them!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry and Bill, in my opinion many in Africa have gotten a wee bit of the American thought process "What have you done for me lately". I am sure that is why they are so supportive of our new President's give away, give away, give away etc.

Bill keep providing these examples of the good SCI via SCIF are doing. Among some posters it will fall upon deaf ears and blind eyes.

Hey guys I just got a great idea. Why don't we start an AR Chapter of SCI. We could hold an annual Big Bore Shoot and banquet here in Pa (I don't want to hear it is too far to travel). We already have a AR get togeather up in Retreever's area we could just expand from an afternoon to a weekend deal. Maybe we couyld get Craig to come and visit with us and an auction to raise monies for Steve and his favorite Africian cause (Not the Lions) like the Africian ground squirel or even better yet the endangered Baboon.