36 minute read
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
from CIC Magazine 2022/1 - English version
by International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC)
Resource Africa received the 2022 CIC Communications Prize for their short film “LET AFRICANS DECIDE OPEN LETTER,” during the Closing Ceremony of the 68th General Assembly.
The award was accepted by Bupe Banda (Community Leaders Network Zambia) – who participated in the conference as a speaker – on behalf of Resource Africa.
The video was selected by the prize committee for helping to shine a light on the realities faced by local communities across southern Africa. The open letter was addressed to celebrities in the UK, with the signatories urging them to stop undermining their conservation efforts and their right to sustainably use natural resources.
Particular topics that were addressed in the video included incentive-based conservation, habitat and population restoration, as well issues related to human-wildlife conflict.
The CIC extends it congratulations to Resource Africa, and welcomes others to follow their example in giving a voice to indigenous peoples and local communities in all areas of the globe. We are pleased to announce that the 2022 Hunting Auction was a resounding success thanks to the support of our loyal members and donors.
Despite the ongoing disruptions to events and international travel caused by the pandemic, we received many wonderful donations from our members throughout the year, all of which were put on offer at our online Silent Auction and the Live Auction which took place at the 68th General Assembly in Riga.
47 items were available for bidding, which generated a sum of €123,657 in total! This success would not have been possible without the active participation of our members and donors. The CIC thanks all those who donated, many of whom were very open and flexible with the terms of the hunts that were on offer.
We also extend our thanks to everyone who participated in the bidding process, especially the buyers with winning bids.
The Hunting Auction continues to be an essential pillar of the CIC, with all the proceeds being used to support the organisation’s ongoing work in biodiversity conservation.
Árpád Sárkány Alejandro Allende Baron von Gemmingen-Hornberg Carlo Alberto & Giovanni Pejrone Charles Nelson & Paul-Emmanuel Kantor Claude Rosier Cordelia & Rudolf Kräling Danene van der Westhuyzen Dr. Imrich Šuba Dr. Philipp Harmer Francois Labet George Aman Hugo Kotzé Ing. Milenko Zeremski Ing. Zivko Milovanov Jean and Bridget van Rijckevorsel Kostia Janssen / Trumpetters Drift Safaris Marc Nieuwenhuys Michel Mantheakis Nicolas Graas Norbert Vossen Philipp Burla Philippe Claeys Ragnar R. Jorgensen
DONORS
Sanja Momčilović Bognič Soňa Chovanová Supeková Stefan Boensch (wildlife artist) Toni Meggle Waffenhandel Christoph Tavernaro AGVPS / Florin Iordache, Ovidiu Ionescu, Mugurel Draganescu Bakonyerdő Zrt Estonian Hunters Society FINESTTRIGGER H. Krieghoff GmbH HHK SAFARIS Hungarian Falconry Association Hunting Association „Užice” Kisalföld Forstwirtschaft GmbH L.U. „Jovan Šerbanović” Žagubica Latvian Safari Club NEFAG Nagykunsági Erdészeti és Faipari Zrt. NYÍRERDŐ Zrt. SCI Helvetia Chapter / Antoine Spillmann Swarovski-Optik AG & CO KG VERGA Zrt. Young Opinion Board ZEISS
WINNERS OF THE 2022 CIC WILDLIFE PHOTO PRIZE!
We are happy to announce the winners of the 2022 CIC Wildlife Photo Prize!
In April earlier this year, we put out a call for photographers to participate in the competition, which was held in support of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration and under the theme, “The Game for Restoration.”
Participants were tasked with submitting photos related to and depicting the restoration of wildlife populations and habitats. A shortlist of photos selected by a jury were on display at the 68th General Assembly in Riga, where attendees were able to vote on their favourite submissions. After counting all of the votes, here are the final results.
ASKER IBNE FIROZ (1ST PLACE)
Winning by a landslide majority was this photo of a Bengal tiger taken by Asker Ibne Firoz. The rare Bengal tiger was photographed in Sundarbans, Bangladesh following a population increase that was attributed to conservation and anti-poaching measures implemented by the Forest Department of Bangladesh.
Coming in second place was András Gindenburg, who submitted this photo of a European hare taken in the Fejér county of Hungary. European hare populations increased by 25% in Hungary between 2017 – 2021 due to funding put towards habitat improvement projects.
RAFFI RYAN AKBAR (3RD PLACE) Receiving the third highest number of votes was Raffi Ryan Akbar, for this orangutan photo taken in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It depicts the work of the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA), which rehabilitates orangutans that have been rescued from illegal wildlife trade operations and illegal pet ownership before they are released into the wild.
HUNTERS PROVIDE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Since 2 March, 2022 the CIC has been working to support humanitarian efforts to assist those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
To date, we have raised almost €350,000 and spent €298,000 directly on the purchase of food, goods and materials. €1,500 of this amount was raised during the “Dinner for Ukraine” which was held during the 68th General Assembly in Riga. Here is a summary outlining some of the activities we have been carrying out using your donations over the past several months.
Please donate using the QR code so that we can continue helping those in need in these difficult times. The CIC is assisting the ongoing humanitarian efforts in collaboration with the National Hunting for Charity Organisation (OJV KNP Kft.), the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and the Hungarian Hunters’ National Chamber (OMVK).
POWER GENERATORS PUT TO GOOD USE IN UKRAINE
Six 5,500-watt generators were purchased using CIC donations and sent for use in Ukraine. The generators were initially sent to Kiev, but were later moved to other critical areas. Some were transported to a hospital in Kharkiv, while the rest were sent to newly liberated areas that have limited or no access to infrastructure such as electricity and water.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO BE TRANSPORTED INTO UKRAINE
€3,000 worth of medical equipment was purchased and transported to a hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, as well other locations in the eastern part of the country. Among the items included in the shipment were latex gloves, bandages, catheters, sponges, cloths and more. Christopher Kowalewski – a CIC Member from Poland who has been coordinating efforts to assist refugees in his country – was also able to provide additional medicine and blankets to the delivered goods.
SOUP AND A NINE SEATER MINIBUS IN USE AT THE HUNGARIAN BORDER
A nine seater minibus, costing a total of €8,000, was purchased for use at the Hungarian border town of Záhony. This was in part funded through CIC donations (€3,000); the purchase was also sponsored by CIC Young Opinion Members, as well as several other generous contributors. The bus is used for the transport of refugees to accommodation sites, as well as to the city of Budapest. It is also utilised when moving goods to and from refugee support stations within Záhony.
In addition, the CIC food distribution stand in Záhony – which has been operational since 7 March, 2022 – continues to serve hot food to refugees. Around 60-90 litres of soup is cooked and distributed on a daily basis.
100 BEDS AND 18,000 JUICE BOXES DONATED IN SUPPORT OF REFUGEES
100 beds were kindly donated to the CIC by the Maltese Hospital Service Austria, and put to immediate use at a welcome centre for refugees in Záhony. Foldable beds were among the many essential items that were requested as a matter of urgency by the local mayor.
In addition, long-time partner of the CIC, RAUCH (Austria), generously donated 18,000 juice boxes, which were handed out at the CIC food distribution station at the Hungarian border.
TRANSPORT TO GERMANY ORGANISED FOR REFUGEES
CIC Member Graf Benedikt von Dürckheim-Montmartin and the German organisation, Ruricher Hilfswerk – OST e.V, helped coordinate free transport opportunities for Ukrainian refugees travelling from Hungary to Würzburg, Germany. The CIC Administrative Office helped organise the first two rounds of transport, carrying some 90 individuals, before setting up a formal arrangement with a local Hungarian charity which now regularly organises transport via train for refugees travelling between the two countries.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
UNITING AGAINST MYTHS, ADVOCATING FOR TRUTHS
On 6 January, 2022 the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) and Dallas Safari Club (DSC) jointly hosted the HUNT conference in Dallas (USA) within the framework of the 2022 DSC Convention.
HUNT, or Hunters Unite Now & Tomorrow, was organised to explore some of the most pressing issues in the world of hunting and sustainable use.
Three sessions were organised during the event, with each session attended by a number of experts working in the relevant topic areas.
Below is a summary of each of the sessions, as well as the lessons learned from them. RURALITY FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL - PUTTING ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES, BUILDING ALLIANCES
This session sought to identify the issues associated with our rural areas and how they can be addressed.
Tamás Marghescu (Director General, CIC) set the scene by giving the outcomes on this topic from the 67th CIC General Assembly. Despite their importance, it was found that rural stakeholders are misunderstood, and are involved in many internal conflicts. Alliances in the rural sector were mentioned as being key to addressing these problems.
When discussing how to bridge the rural-urban divide, Sean McLelland (Executive Director, Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation) and Scot McClure (Director of Education, Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation) stressed the importance of education. The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation does this by targeting young people and educating them on sustainable use issues through practical means.
Increasing access to rural areas was also mentioned as a matter of significance, with Ronald J. Regan (Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) suggesting that many urbanites are unaware of how to participate in rural opportunities.
STOP THE TROPHY NONSENSE, EXPOSE THE MYTHS
Understanding social dialogue and the role of policy in a world where empathy for animals is on the rise is arguably the biggest challenge for supporters of sustainable use.
Moderator Shane Mahoney (President & CEO, Conservation Visions. President, CIC Policy and Law Division) asked panellists how we can think of “trophy hunting” in a different way in order to adapt to this new world. The impact of language and terminology was a major point of discussion here. Johnson Ndokosho (Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry of Namibia) suggested that while international hunting is a critical part of Namibia’s wildlife management model, the term “trophy hunting” remains controversial. Instead, they use the term “conservation hunting” – hunting with conservation in mind.
Mahoney added that international hunting is a more accurate term, as “trophy hunting” does not use adjectives that accurately describes hunting.
Providing good narratives was brought up as another element to consider. Greg Simons (Principal/GM, Wildlife Systems, Inc.) argued that narratives should be relatable, with food given as an example.
CONSUME, CONSERVE, COMMUNICATE
Effectively communicating with the outside world is important if we are to address the misinformation that surrounds sustainable use.
In view of this, Jason G. Goldman (Science journalist) suggested that we need to reshape our approach to messaging.
It was suggested that the traditional method of looking to fill education gaps with knowledge (i.e. the deficit model) is not working, as the facts do not align with people’s existing values.
Therefore, Goldman proposed the need for a new way of thinking that builds trust through honest engagement. Karrie Meadows (Communication Manager, DSC) suggested that the hunting experience should be shared, through photos and descriptions, as a whole from beginning to end. Rob Nelson (Science communicator, Filmmaker) also highlighted the importance of positive messaging, both for organisations and individuals.
When looking to communicate these messages, panellists agreed that messages should be aimed towards those in the middle ground that hold an open mind on the issues. HUNTS FOR CHARITY, THE CIC TROPHY EVALUATION SYSTEM AND DEBUNKING THE MYTHS: FEHOVA 2022
The 28th FeHoVa Exhibition opened its doors in Budapest, Hungary on 17 February, 2022. The four-day event was dedicated to showcasing the environmental, scientific, cultural and entrepreneurial aspects related to the three core aspects of the exhibition: Hunting, Fishing and Weapons. The CIC typically has a strong presence at the annual international exhibition, and this year was no different.
At the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Philipp Harmer, President of the CIC, gave a speech where he discussed the work of the CIC and the wider world of sustainable use. Particular mention was given to the CIC’s focus on the services that hunting offers to society, with a special mention made to services such as: enhancing biodiversity, managing wildlife, providing nutrition and offering recreation.
Another significant program that took place at the Opening Ceremony was the presentation of the One with Nature (OWN) – World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition Badges of Honour, which were awarded to individu
als that contributed towards the organisation of OWN which took place over September and October in Budapest last year.
The badges were presented by the Hungarian State Secretary for International Communications and Relations (Kovács Zoltan), and introduced by the Deputy Editor in Chief of Nimród Magazine (Richárd Bors). The CIC Director General was the recipient of the Grade 1 Badge of Honour, the highest form of decoration available, for his professional and effective work in ensuring the success of OWN.
Following the Opening Ceremony, the CIC hosted a main stage presentation on the CIC Trophy Evaluation System (TES), an international system created for monitoring and comparing hunting trophies from various species with species-specific, unified measurement parameters.
Imre Kovács, Certified CIC Measurer (CCM), took to the stage to give a talk on the history of the TES, the technical details related to measurement and its use in scientific pursuits.
A demonstration of the measuring process was conducted as part of the presentation, the end result of which was the awarding of the CIC Gold Medal to Dr. Philipp Harmer’s personal red stag trophy.
In addition to these live events, the CIC hosted a stand as part of the exhibition, where visitors were able to learn about the organisation’s work in nature conservation.
As part of our activities there, the official Hungarian version of the Debunking the Myths brochure was debuted for visitors and partners.
The brochure, which is also available in English, takes a look at some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the topic of “trophy hunting”, while sharing substantiated truths on the merits of international hunting, underpinned by real-life examples and scientific data. UNITING HUNTERS TO RESPOND IN TIMES OF CRISIS: CIC JOINS FACE MEMBERS’ MEETING IN WARSAW
Heads and representatives from European national hunting federations and associations, as well as high-level public authorities, were finally able to meet in person at the FACE Members’ Meeting in Warsaw, Poland on 5-7 April after a two-year delay caused by the global pandemic and uncertainties surrounding the war in Ukraine.
The Polish hosts, in collaboration with the FACE Secretariat, brought together exceptional speakers, resulting in a lively discussion where participants were able to share experiences and exchange ideas on how to scale up action in times of crisis.
As part of the proceedings, Tamás Marghescu – Director General of CIC – gave a presentation on the ongoing work by the CIC, FACE and the Hungarian National Hunting for Charity Organisation (OJV KNP Kft.) to support refugees arriving into the countries bordering Ukraine.
Through a combined effort, involving the mobilisation of a large network of hunters and conservation forces, close to one million Euros in materials and in-kind support has been distributed to where it was most needed. In addition, there are already preparations in place for post-war ecosystem restoration efforts.
In a related discussion, participants also shared how hunting associations are playing a key role in every corner of the world to address the crises that society is facing.
At the same time, it was noted that we should not lose sight of the importance of addressing long-term biodiversity and climate issues in support of the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and the preparations for an EU legislation on restoration.
Within this context, discussions included topics related to animal health, such as ASF in wild boar, bird flu, and the need to provide further support for migratory birds.
In parallel with biodiversity and climate related actions, education and awareness raising efforts with regard to sustainable hunting were brought up as a matter of equal significance. The CIC extends its thanks to FACE for organising what was an excellent event, as well as the many attendees that were able to contribute to the insightful discussion that took place.
SCIENCE BASED DECISION MAKING AND STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION - THE KEYS TO MANAGING AFRICAN WILDLIFE
The world’s leading figures in conservation converged in Brussels on 26 April, 2022 to attend a conference on the management and conservation of African wildlife.
“Is Africa being heard? Hunting, Conservation and Livelihoods” was organised by the EU Parliament’s Biodiversity, Hunting, Country Intergroup. It was moderated by Dr. Ali Kaka, IUCN Regional Councillor, and jointly hosted by the Intergroup’s President, Álvaro Amaro MEP, and Vice President, Juan Ignacio Zoido MEP. The event was also held in conjunction with the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE), Safari Club International (SCI), SCI Foundation (SCIF) and the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO).
The discussions at the conference centred around African conservation approaches, an appropriate topic given that certain approaches have been under scrutiny in recent times, with “trophy hunting” in particular the subject of many targeted campaigns.
In a similar vein, we have seen community representatives and stakeholders voicing concern on the introduction of policies that look to restrict a nation’s ability to manage their own wildlife resources.
This brings us to the main aim of the event - to explore whether African voices are being listened to in the conservation arena. Based on the talking points from the policymakers in attendance, it was clear that science and facts are a major factor in decision making.
MEP Álvaro Amaro set the scene on this issue in his opening speech, where he stated that decisions should be based on scientific evidence. Adding to this point was Ivonne Higuero, Secretary General of CITES, who underlined that it is the duty of CITES to consider a measure if it is supported by evidence.
Jorge Rodriguez Romero, Deputy Head of the Multilateral Environmental Cooperation Unit of the European Commission, outlined the impartial nature of the EU in regards to “trophy hunting,” due to their inherent reliance on facts and knowledge. The flip side to this point of view was the perspective of African representatives.
Here, a desire for stakeholder participation was the overall sentiment that was brought forward.
The Namibian Minister for Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, alluded to this when stating that his aim in attending the conference was to ensure that African voices are considered by EU Member States.
Contextualising the significance of this viewpoint was Dilys Roe, Chair of the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi), who noted that indigenous peoples and local communities manage and own the land on which the majority of the world’s wildlife can be found.
Considering the two take-home messages discussed above, it can be concluded that even though policymakers are open to utilising sustainable use as part of wildlife management strategies, there are few mechanisms that bring the voices of stakeholders into the conversation in the first place. A number of environmental conventions are already looking to address this issue.
For example, the “UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration” and the “CBD Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework” will both look to integrate indigenous knowledge and leadership into the next wave of global conservation action. Unfortunately, this is not enough given. Community representatives, NGOs, and governments will all have a role to play going forward to make a real impact.
Providing a platform for African voices has been at the core of the CIC’s activities in recent years. Examples of this include press conferences being held in EU Parliament for African community leaders and representatives of state, as well as facilitating governments in working with stakeholders on policies.
A focus on similar activities will need to be a priority for all involved if we are to maintain and support wildlife in Africa and beyond. The Jagd und Hund Fair 2022 kicked off 7 June, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. The fair is the largest hunting exhibition in Europe, and this year’s iteration marked the 40-year anniversary of this historic event.
As part of the festivities, CIC President Dr. Philipp Harmer gave a welcome speech for participants at the fair, where he stressed how the world around hunting has changed since Jagd und Hund first opened its doors 40 years ago.
In this regard, it was emphasised that hunters need to adapt going forwards. Effectively communicating with non-hunting audiences, particularly about the services that hunting renders to society, was put forward as a vital area of focus for hunters and supporters of sustainable use.
The CIC German Delegation also hosted an event in the framework of the opening day, in the form of a session titled “The Draft of a New Hunting Law in Brandenburg – Sustainable Habitat and Game Management.”
JAGD UND HUND 2022: THE CIC PRESIDENT’S WELCOME SPEECH, A HUNTING LAW IN BRANDENBURG, AND THE CIC WORLD GAME COOKBOOK
The session explored recent events in Brandenburg, in which there were efforts to introduce a new legislation that would have been detrimental to hunting values and ethics.
While this piece of legislation was ultimately not passed, it was noted that the course of events may have set a precedent for similar incidents in the future, creating a potential area of concern for hunters and the work they carry out in supporting wildlife conservation. In addition, we are proud to announce that the CIC World Game Cookbook was widely promoted as part of this year’s Jagd und Hund.
A double page spread on the cookbook was printed in the Visitor’s Guide, in addition to being advertised on Infoscreens around the fair. Furthermore, recipes from the cookbook were cooked live on the cooking stage by Yvonne Scharl-Blöcker.
The cookbook was available for order at the Paul Parey Zeitschriftenverlag GmbH stand, and copies of the book were on display at the booths operated by Wild & Hund, Juwelier Halder and Mark Dedekind (South African outfitter).
If you are interested in purchasing a copy yourself, you can do so through the purchase link on our website.
MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS
THE CIC MARKETING BROCHURE: OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
The President of the CIC, Dr. Philipp Harmer, started the initiative to create a brochure on the CIC which was launched at the 68th General Assembly in Riga.
The purpose of this brochure is to provide a comprehensive overview of the CIC’s history and present status, as well as its path into the future.
With the help of this document, every member and non-member will understand the role and function of the CIC, particularly within the context of the newly approved CIC Statutes which allows us to be an effective international non-governmental organisation in the 21st century.
Every three years, after CIC elections, the brochure will be refreshed and renewed. The printed version of the brochure - of which a small number were distributed to participants at the General Assembly - will be a high quality information source, which can be given to partners, sponsors, political decision-makers, and members-to-be. It can also act as a beautiful decorative piece on your coffee table.
The brochure is just at a starting point and your comments on possible improvements are most welcome. Please send any feedback you may have to Arno Wimpffen (a.wimpffen@ cic-wildlife.com). After incorporating changes, a new edition will be launched at the 69th General Assembly in Paris (20-23 April, 2023) and distributed to every member of the CIC.
View the brochure online using the QR code.
See in online.
The CIC World Game Cookbook
„Love can be found through one’s stomach” is a saying that can be found in several languages. It can therefore be argued that the best way to safeguard hunting and the interests of hunters is by focusing on game meat.
The latest trends in nutrition say that wild game is one of the foods of the future. Wild game meat is healthy, organic and can be obtained in a sustainable fashion. Introducing more game meat into our diets is therefore a good way to support sustainable food practices while trying out delicious and nutritious dishes! Popularising game meat, as well as game dishes, is a good way for hunters to win the favour of the general public. In view of this, the Artemis Working Group of International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) will be bringing a unique publication - the CIC World Game Cookbook. The CIC World Game Cookbook is a collection of 209 game recipes
sident of the CIC Artemis Working Group, Soňa Chovanová Supeková.
For more information on pricing and how to order the book, visit our website.
AGRILIFE: A LABEL DESIGNED FOR THE DIRECT BENEFITS OF EUROPEAN FARMERS
The AgriLife label is a progressive process initiated by the European Landowner’s organization (ELO) that puts the farmer at the core of its process by rewarding his/her work and efforts to achieve a high level of best agricultural practices that respect the environment and are a source of biodiversity.
AgriLife is to be the first-ever pan-European Label to develop a common methodology based on scientific criteria to assess the agro-biodiversity conditions of European territories. The process is supported by a steering committee and a high-level scientific committee.
It is a unique process in the European landscape of promoting sustainable management practices for and by farmers. It anticipates the movement toward regenerative agriculture, encourages innovation and aims at ensuring the economic and social viability of agri-businesses in line with European strategies for preserving biodiversity in agriculture (CAP, European Biodiversity Strategy, European Green Deal, Farm to Fork, etc.)
AgriLife is therefore an alliance and a recognized network that also mobilizes all the political and operational forces of the stakeholders concerned (civil society, research and businesses etc.), linked to the implementation of measures designed to have a positive impact on agro-biodiversity in Europe.
With its specific focus to evaluate the agroecological status of European farmlands and guide them in improving their management practices in agriculture, AgriLife will have an autonomous process and supervision, even if inspired by the Label Wildlife Estates (WE). Above all, it is about encouraging and honoring those who, through their commitment, efforts, strategy and practices, are frontrunners, all the while respecting the legal frameworks and making the best use of scientifically founded methods. This objective, thanks to impact measurement on biodiversity, relates to several types of agriculture from conventional to many other types.
The benefits of a well-structured soil, biologically rich, are important, both in terms of production quality, and inputs levels, combined with restoration of small fauna and a better-managed territory are key elements in the development of sustainable agriculture. Those benefits are more and more recognized by consumers, public authorities and private partners.
The AgriLife label is therefore an encouragement and a recognition, but also of communication tool for all actors, whether they are suppliers, traders, or managers of public or European grants. Participating in AgriLife requires a personal investment from the farmer, yet a relatively simple way to offer a better vision of the impact of one’s choices, practices and results on one’s farm. It will facilitate the identification of areas or aspects where management practices could be improved. It will act in this context as a „revealer”.
As AgriLife is founded on a solid scientific criterion, it will benefit from the latest research and information on new technologies and practices, which will grant a certain knowledge and competitiveness compared to other farmers’ advantage to its members.
If you are a farmer and interested to be part of the 1st phase of the Pilot scheme, please contact Alain Scriban at alain.scriban@elo.org, Chair of the AgriLife Steering Committee or Delphine Dupeux, Coordinator delphine.dupeux@elo.org
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM SYMPOSIUM - CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES 8-9TH OF JUNE 2022 ESTONIA
After some challenging flight schedules, a group of journalists from Italy, Germany, Estonia, Romania, Tunisia, Finland, UK, Columbia convened for a one-day symposium in Tallinn, Estonia. Rob Yorke, the moderator, set the challenge to journalists as critical thinkers, without fear or favour, examining issues around conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources.
The event was opened by Mrs Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee at the Estonian Parliament, Mr. Marku Lamp, Deputy Chancellor of Ministry of Environment of Estonia, and Mr. Margus Puust, President of Estonian Hunters Society.
Mr. Marku Lamp, Deputy Chancellor of Ministry of Environment of Estonia
Mr. Margus Puust, President of Estonian Hunters Society
Mrs Yoko Alender, Chairman of the Environment Committee at the Estonian Parliament The following presentations did not disappoint in stimulating wide-ranging robust discussions.
Mabrouka Khedir, a reporter from Tunisia, talked about the how far their national government is from any form of environmental engagement. This included regulation of hunting – itself not a major activity in the country - alongside exploitation of nature resources such as timber. She mentioned the reintroduction of Atlas gazelle and a project on connecting children to environmental issues. The overriding outtake was the country’s instability and lack of law, which were eye-opening to those in Europe used to regulations and rules.
Peep Mannil, a scientist with the Estonia Environment Agency, illuminated us on how data around large carnivores (brown bear, wolf, lynx) informed their management. There was positive relationship based on trust with farmers, hunters and wildlife scientists – especially on how compensation for damages was assessed taking into account mitigating actions such as electric fencing. There was a collective understanding by all stakeholders that ‘overpopulation’ of these
carnivores caused greater issues and losses to the carnivores via issues of human-wildlife conflict.
Dr John Linnell, an interdisciplinary scientist studying human-carnivore interactions spoke about an opposite situation where ‘hard ecological facts have little to do with management issues.’ The media have a stronger role to help enable scientists – portrayed as human beings - to present facts, rather than be sidelined by those who ‘peddle ‘false science’ opinions. Co-existence of both carnivores and people almost plays second fiddle to the elusive goal of people with different values co-existing and tolerating each other within the same space. Wolves in Norway are an example of a locked ‘wicked problem’ driven partly by whipped up mass hysteria.
Helena Arusoo, environmental journalist
from Estonia, narrated the journey of project in 2018 of the wolf being the country’s national animal for that year. After a public poll (where the hedgehog was voted No1), the close runner up the wolf (‘Hunt’ in Estonian) was thought the worthy animal to take the heat out of potential looming conflict in parts of the country. The roundtable convened of sheep farmers, ecologists, hunters, storytellers et al, indicated the vital social skills in convening the ‘right people’ to help model a tool to mitigate similar conflicts. It also involved nudging local media into better use of proper contextual words (non-anthropomorphic) when mentioning wolves within a report.
Marc de Beaufort, a documentary maker,
expounded on reframing predictable narratives around hunting. Primarily it’s about identifying who’s driving wedges and pressing buttons on the ‘hot issues’. He used examples from Columbia on engaging the private sector in starting to bring about change – concluding it takes time, trust, with both facts and emotion. His goal was an inclusive brand of ‘Nature keepers’ – where hunting is defined, it is diverse in its stakeholders, specific to the topic and it’s not just about “pulling the trigger”.
The journalist group then reported at the CIC’s international conference titled “Convene - Conserve - Communicate” in Riga on the 10th June at an extended 1.5hr session. Rob Yorke presented an overview of the presentations and subsequent discussions. The journalists were actively encouraged to report their personal views – both from the floor and by rotating them on stage – as to what had been learned, what gaps still existed and the challenges ahead. There was robust pushback, comment and interaction from the whole room with one key element being plenty of roving microphones and a stern moderator to ensure not one dominated and all the voices were heard.
One of the conclusions is that there are plenty of fresher creative ways to engage on these matters with diverse groups of participants ready to offer critical thinking to assist multidisciplinary thinking arounds hunting, wildlife conservation, sustainable use and communities all adaptively move forward together.
The International Journalism Symposium brings together journalists from various backgrounds (environment, science, wildlife, hunting, mainstream media) to discuss best practices and issues that the profession is facing in today’s world. Attendees are also given an insight into the ongoing work of the CIC and the overall topic area.
The Journalism Symposium initiative has been immensely successful in recent years, and has led to the publication of a number of articles in prominent media publications on the realities associated with hunting and sustainable use.
At every General Assembly, the CIC organises the International Journalism Symposium - Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resources. These events take a closer look at the particular issues explored at each General Assembly, as well as the sustainable use and hunting activities taking place in the host country.
WILDLIFE WATCH
Our Network
Although TES trainings were scheduled at the start of this year, the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic caused these TES courses to be rescheduled to later dates. Starting from July, there are many courses and events in the pipeline so a busy period awaits us!
With more than 680 active measurers in the network, the number of trophy evaluations entered into the Trophy Evaluation Database (TED) continues to increase on a daily basis. We are immensely thankful to everyone who evaluated trophies and submitted their entries to the database during this difficult time!
Among the events of note since our last update was the 7th International Trophy Evaluation, which was held as the CIC Administrative Office in Budakeszi, Hungary on February 16th. We extend our thanks to the three Senior Trophy Judges (STJ) that were in attendance as part of the Evaluation Committee for this event: Alexandar Ceranic (SRB), Esa Hinkkanen (FI) and Norbert Bleier (HU). The evaluation also coincided with Hungary’s FeHoVa (Fishing, Hunting and Arms) International Exhibition, which the CIC attended to showcase the TES.
Imre Kovács (HU), a Certified CIC Measurer (CCM), took to the main stage to give a talk on the history of the TES, the technical details related to measurement and its use in scientific pursuits.
In addition, a red deer trophy belonging to President of the CIC, Dr. Philipp Harmer, was measured as part of a live demonstration for attendees – we are happy to announce that the specimen ended up receiving a CIC Gold Medal.
STJs Aleksandar Ceranic, Norbert Bleier, Esa Hinkkanen and Conservation Officer Anett Turóczi at the 7th International Trophy Evaluation Imre Kovács and Anett Turóczi at FeHoVa
Aleksandar Ceranic and Esa Hinkkanen measuring the upper beam circumference of a red deer trophy / Source: Nimród Vadászújság.
The TES in numbers: Active CCMs/STJs: 621+64 Countries in the TES: 33 Measurements in the TED: 30,541
The TEB strongly encourages all hunters to have their trophies evaluated by a CCM in order to enhance research possibilities and encourage a more wholesome approach to the evaluation, regardless of the trophy’s potential to reach a medal limit.
Dr. Philipp Harmer (President of the CIC) and Tamás Marghescu (Director General of the CIC) with the President’s Gold Medal winning trophy / Source: Nimród Vadászújság.
In the Spotlight
Andres Lillemäe Estonia 2013-STJ-013
You have been the Co-chair of the Trophy Evaluation Board for three years now. How do you see trophy evaluation all around the world? What role is it playing in wildlife management?
Measuring trophies should in essence be the collection of scientific material. During measurement, hunters should assess the animal’s age, if it has been hunted at the right time and so on. This information can be used to compare different years, as well as the populations in different countries, in order to get a bigger picture on whether populations are increasing or decreasing. On the basis of this, it is possible to do selective shooting in the right way.
How do you see trophy evaluation in your home country, Estonia?
In Estonia, measuring trophies is something that we have preserved. At the moment, the system involves a trophy exhibition held every two years, where we measure around 2,000 trophies. About 1,500 of them are good enough to earn a medal. We also give feedback to hunters. However, we want to adopt a system where the age of the fauna is estimated during trophy measurement.
Nowadays young hunters are becoming increasing interested in trophy measuring. As a teacher, how could we encourage the younger generation to participate more in trophy evaluation?
In Estonia, we have around ten young hunters who want to measure trophies in the future. We encourage them to become trainees. What we want to see is trophy measuring becoming part of the basic principles of a hunter’s training course. As a result, hunters would be able to estimate the approximate value of trophies themselves before shooting.
By introducing the online database for trophy measurements in 2016, we now have a huge collection of information from trophies around the world. If you could propose a piece of research using the data in the TED, what would it be?
When uploading trophies into the database, there is currently no timeline. When I compiled a comparative graph based on exhibition dates between 1937-2000, it revealed that the value of herbivore trophies increased after selective shooting spread. A similar graph for carnivores revealed that the value of their trophies also increased as a result of selective shooting. Uploading tables alone does not provide comparative results. It should be possible to create timelines, sort by countries and see how - and to which extent - the values have changed. This way, the database would be able to accurately look at the big picture.
In your opinion, how could we improve the trophy measuring system both on a national and international level? Do you see any flaws in it?
It should be made compulsory to measure and evaluate all trophies. Every hunter would know that when they hunt something, they would give the trophy for evaluation. We would also need a larger amount of people to measure the trophies, but I do not think the lack of experts would be a problem. Countries should create regulations that ensure that the age is estimated based on the jawbones – this would apply for exhibitions as well. As a part of hunter’s basic training, hunters should be trained about the norms of selective shooting. They would then use these principles and assess, through measurement, whether they should have taken the shot. Before shooting, it is important to have a multifactor perspective; to know that an animal is not just another animal. This will let young individuals grow, allow the weak and the ill to be hunted first, and so on.
