Tuesday, June 19, 2018

SCI Attends International Wildlife Conservation Council Meeting

Safari Club International will be represented at a public meeting of the International Wildlife Conservation Council on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in Atlanta, GA.

SCI President Paul Babaz will be joined by several other SCI members who also are members of the council. The meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern time) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Headquarters Building, 1875 Century Blvd. NE, Atlanta, GA.

The Council was formed in December of 2017 and is an advisory body whose duties include activities regarding international hunting and wildlife.  The group provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior regarding benefits that result from United States citizens traveling to foreign nations to engage in hunting.

SCI has long been the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in wildlife conservation, both in the United States and around the world. The knowledge and experience SCI has in dealing with issues related to these matters benefit the Council.

“Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and the Department Of Interior are working both domestically and internationally to achieve sustainable wildlife resources; in opening opportunities; in engaging NGOs and governments, international and state-based wildlife agencies; and in attempting to streamline regulations to make them more common sense for the international hunter,” said Babaz.

At this meeting, the IWCC will discuss international wildlife conservation strategies, importation security and customer service at U.S. Ports of Entry and perspectives from range countries.

Some of the duties of the council include:

  • Developing a plan for public engagement and education on the benefits of international hunting.

  • Reviewing and making recommendations for changes, when needed, on all Federal programs, and/or regulations, to insure support of hunting as:

    • An enhancement to foreign wildlife conservation and survival

    • An effective tool to combat illegal trafficking and poaching

  • Recommending removal of barriers to the importation of legally hunted wildlife into the United States.  

For a complete list of responsibilities of the Council, go to International Wildlife Conservation Council; Public Meeting.

“I’m honored to serve as a member of the International Wildlife Conservation Council,” said Babaz. “Having a voice in the decisions being made regarding international hunting is both a privilege and a responsibility.”



 

Becoming an SCI Member:

Joining Safari Club International is the best way to be an advocate for continuing our hunting heritage and supporting worldwide sustainable use conservation, wildlife education and humanitarian services.

JOIN NOW:  https://www.safariclub.org/join-and-participate/join-now

Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI has approximately 200 Chapters worldwide and its members represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 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.