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IUCN Briefing Paper BRIEFING PAPER September 2016 Contact information updated April 2019 Informing decisions on trophy hunting A Briefing Paper regarding issues to be taken into account when considering restriction of imports of hunting trophies For more information: SUMMARY Dilys Roe Trophy hunting is currently the subject of intense debate, with moves IUCN CEESP/SSC Sustainable Use at various levels to end or restrict it, including through increased bans and Livelihoods or restrictions on carriage or import of trophies. This paper seeks to inform SpecialistGroup these discussions. [email protected] Patricia Cremona IUCN Global Species (such as large antlers), and overlaps with widely practiced hunting for meat. Programme It is clear that there have been, and continue to be, cases of poorly conducted [email protected] and poorly regulated hunting. While “Cecil the Lion” is perhaps the most highly publicised controversial case, there are examples of weak governance, corruption, lack of transparency, excessive quotas, illegal hunting, poor monitoring and other problems in a number of countries. This poor practice requires urgent action and reform. However, legal, well regulated trophy Habitat loss and degradation is a primary hunting programmes can, and do, play driver of declines in populations an important role in delivering benefits of terrestrial species. Demographic change for both wildlife conservation and for and corresponding demands for land for the livelihoods and wellbeing of indigenous development are increasing in biodiversity- and local communities living with wildlife. rich parts of the globe, exacerbating this pressure on wildlife and making the need for viable conservation incentives more urgent. © James Warwick RECOMMENDATIONS and the rights and livelihoods of indigenous and local communities, IUCN calls on relevant decision- makers at all levels to ensure that any decisions that could restrict or end trophy hunting programmes: i. are based on careful and sound analysis and iii. are taken only after exploration of other options understanding of the particular role that trophy hunting for engaging with relevant countries to change programmes are playing in relation to conservation efforts poor practice and promote improved standards at all levels in source countries, including their contribution of governance and management of hunting; to livelihoods in specific affected communities; iv. are taken only after identification and implementation ii. are based on meaningful and equitable consultation of feasible, fully funded and sustainable alternatives with affected range state governments and indigenous to hunting that respect indigenous and local community peoples and local communities and do not undermine rights and livelihoods and deliver equal or greater local approaches to conservation; incentives for conservation over the long term. BRIEFING PAPER | TROPHY HUNTING 2 SUMMARY continued and bad hunting practices. They are blunt instruments that risk undermining important Well managed trophy hunting, which takes benefits for both conservation and local place in many parts of the world, can and livelihoods, thus exacerbating rather than does generate critically needed incentives addressing the prevailing major threats and revenue for government, private and of habitat loss and poaching. community landowners to maintain In many parts of the world and restore wildlife as a land use Rather than bans on trophy hunting, poor practices could be improved indigenous and local and to carry out conservation actions (including anti-poaching by sustained engagement with and support communities have chosen interventions). It can return much for responsible national agencies to improve to use trophy hunting as needed income, jobs, and other governance frameworks and on-the- a strategy for conservation important economic and social ground management. of their wildlife and to improve benefits to indigenous and local Or, if decisions to ban or restrict trophy sustainable livelihoods communities in places where these hunting are taken, there is a need to identify benefits are often scarce. In many and implement in advance viable alternative parts of the world indigenous and local long-term sources of livelihood support communities have themselves chosen and conservation incentives. to use trophy hunting as a strategy for conservation of their wildlife and to improve While tourism can be a one viable sustainable livelihoods. alternative in a limited number of cases, it requires access, infrastructure, Time-limited, targeted conditional moratoria guaranteed wildlife viewing opportunities – particularly if accompanied by support and political stability – all conditions that are for on-the ground management reform – missing in many of the places where trophy may be useful tools in driving improvements hunting is working. But tourism and hunting in hunting practice. Such moratoria can be complementary land uses in many could focus on particular countries areas, with both activities – when regulated or species. But poorly targeted or blanket by effective protocols – contributing bans or restrictions affect both good to making wildlife a viable land use. © James Warwick BRIEFING PAPER | TROPHY HUNTING 3 Background What is at stake? • trophy hunting is driving declines of iconic species, particularly large Trophy hunting is currently the subject African mammals like elephant, of intense debate and polarised positions, rhino and lion; with controversy and deep concern over • trophy hunting could readily be replaced the practice of trophy hunting, its ethical by photographic tourism. basis, and its impacts. It is clear that there None of these statements is correct. have been, and continue to be, cases of poorly conducted and poorly regulated Concerns over hunting, sometimes hunting, with Cecil the Lion perhaps driven by these confusions, have sparked the most highly publicised example of this. campaigns and discussions at various levels regarding ending or limiting trophy Intense scrutiny of hunting due to these bad hunting, typically by restricting the national examples has been associated with many level licensing of hunting, the import of confusions (and sometimes misinformation) hunting trophies (through CITES or unilateral about the nature of hunting, including: measures), or their transport by aviation • trophy hunting is the same or shipping companies. as “canned” hunting; This paper seeks to inform these • trophy hunting is illegal; discussions. Changes in estimated numbers of Growth in estimated total numbers of White Rhino in South Africa before and after Black Rhino in South Africa and Namibia start of limited trophy hunting in 1968 ( ) before and after CITES approval 20000 of limited hunting quotas in 2004 ( ) 18000 4000 16000 3500 14000 3000 12000 2500 10000 2000 8000 1500 6000 4000 1000 2000 500 0 0 1895 1915 1935 1955 1975 1995 2015 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 Year Year Figure 1 Trophy hunting programmes have contributed to the recovery of African White and Black Rhinos (see Annex 1: Case Study 1). BRIEFING PAPER | TROPHY HUNTING | BACKGROUND 4 What is trophy hunting? A wide variety of species are hunted, from abundant to threatened. Most are Trophy hunting generally involves the native, some are introduced. Hunting of payment of a fee by a foreign or local hunter introduced species is not further discussed for a hunting experience, usually guided, here, as it constitutes a small proportion for one or more individuals of a particular of hunting and raises quite different species with specific desired characteristics conservation issues. (such as large size or antlers). The trophy is usually retained by the hunter and taken home. Meat of hunted animals is usually Is trophy hunting used for food by local communities “canned hunting”? or the hunter. It may be a distinct activity There is a tendency for the media and or overlap with recreational or meat decision-makers to conflate canned hunting hunting. Many deer hunters, for example, (hunting of animals in confined enclosures may desire a trophy but also hunt for food where they are unable to escape) with or for the experience. trophy hunting. Canned hunting represents It takes place in most countries of Europe, a very small proportion of hunting, the USA, Canada, Mexico, several raises very different issues from trophy countries in East, Central and South Asia, hunting of free-ranging animals, and is around half of the 54 countries in Africa condemned by existing IUCN policy (IUCN (Booth and Chardonnet, 2015), several Recommendation 3.093, “Application of the countries in Central and South America, IUCN Sustainable Use Policy to sustainable and in Australia and New Zealand. consumptive use of wildlife and recreational hunting in southern Africa”, 2004). It is not A wide variety of species are hunted, discussed further in this document. from abundant to threatened. Most are native, some are introduced. Hunting of introduced species is not further discussed Is it legal? here, as it constitutes a small proportion And who decides? of hunting and raises quite different conservation issues. Trophy hunting is often incorrectly conflated with the poaching for the organised international illegal wildlife trade (IWT) that is currently devastating Argali numbers in Gulzat Local Protected Area many species including African elephant 1800 and African rhinos. 1541 1600 However, trophy hunting typically takes place as a legal, regulated activity under 1400 programmes implemented by government
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