African Indaba Articles - wildlife-baldus.com

The characteristics of hunting tourism are comparable to those of ecotourism“ was one of the mainoutcomesFor more information about CIC, please contact CIC Director General, Mr. Kai Wollscheid, at the CICAdministrative Office in Hungary email: K.Wollscheid@cic-wildlife.org) CIC webpage http://www.cicwildlife.orgHunting in National ParksBy Ludolph Swanefelder, Chair, Confederation of South African Hunting Associations (CHASA)The SA Hunters Association is the oldest and largest hunting association in South Africa and is indeed anational organisation. There is however a further nineteen hunting associations ranging from regionalorganisations like Free State Hunters to national disciplines like SA Handgun Hunters. These organisationshave a combined membership op 14’900 and are affiliated to the Confederation of Hunting Associations ofSA (CHASA). Whilst this means that there are two national role players, the leadership of the two, togetherwith PHASA and Wildlife Ranching SA, are united in HAWASA, an alliance representing all hunters andgame farmers in South Africa.HAWASA have taken the stance that it is not currently opportune for hunters to be seen pushing forhunting in National Parks. The sensitivity of the debate is such that it would be in the interest of the prohuntinggrouping that only researchers and conservationists be seen publicly advocating for this.We know that the animal rights extremists possess exceptional resources and have the ability to beextremely vocal, they however severely lack the ability to push through on their threats, mainly because theydon’t have the membership numbers or even ground level support to do so. The culling of the Tahrs on TableMountain is an excellent example. Widely publicised threats were made, of which came nothing more than avery emotional media statement after the culling commenced. The culling of elephants in National Parks willhave the same outcome. Thanks to exceptional work by pro-hunting conservation organisations (with AfricanIndaba solidly amongst them), parks management have accrued the necessary scientific evidence and publicsupport to request the minister to allow culling to commence. I am convinced that it will go ahead and thatnothing will come from the threats of the extremists. Thát would signal the opportune time for the debate onhunting to be taken public.The nineteen member associations of CHASA are unanimous in support of hunting in NationalParks and it is therefore also CHASA’s official policy. CHASA supports the bigger strategic option of‘incentive driven conservation’ with it’s positive effects on wildlife management, BEE and ultimately the futureof African wildlife.I am of the opinion that SA Hunter’s current stance in opposition to hunting in parks is merely atemporary one, acknowledging the importance of timing in this debate, and will be replaced with one ofsupport to the strategic option as soon as the public debate on hunting in parks commences.DEAT’s National Norms and Standards are expected within the first quarter. It is of course of utmostimportance that the end product not excludes the option of hunting in parks. Whilst it is of great value thatconservation organisations continue to propagate hunting in parks as part of the bigger strategic option,organised hunting should focus all its attention on influencing the Norms and Standards to include the optionof hunting in national parks, opening the way for successfully negotiating such as soon as it becomesopportune.CHASA is committed to do exactly that.62