SCI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and directs worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation and outdoor education. SCI Foundation ensures that the best available science is used in wildlife policy and management and demonstrates the constructive role that hunting and hunters play in the conservation of biodiversity around the world. The organization is First For Wildlife, investing millions of dollars into wildlife conservation and education every year.
The Conservation Department at SCI Foundation partners with academic institutions, community-based support organizations, and conservation non-governmental organizations to complete wildlife research and management projects all over the world. Since 2000, we have put over $70 million in hunter dollars to work on over 100 conservation projects in 30 countries. Some of our programs include:
- North America: SCI Foundation is a strong supporter of the North American Model of Wildlife Management and firmly believes that the hunter-conservationist is the key to future conservation efforts in North America. We have supported projects in 23 states and provinces involving a range of species. Recent foci have been on the interactions between hunted species and expanding predator populations, grizzly and black bear populations, and declining mule deer populations in the West and white-tailed deer in the upper Midwest.
- Africa: SCI Foundation has a long history of success in Africa. We work to support African states in managing their wildlife resources sustainably for the long-term benefit of their land, their people, and wildlife communities. We are currently supporting research to identify the most accurate and efficient methods to survey African lions and leopards so that these iconic species will continue to be conserved through sustainable use.
- Asia: Many central Asian countries are in the early stages of developing a sustainable use conservation model, but SCI Foundation has been present with our partners in the region since 2010. We support building capacity for local community-based conservation throughout the region, including projects in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
- Antipoaching: Illegal harvest for meat or body parts is a primary threat to many wildlife species worldwide, especially rhinoceros and elephant in Africa. SCI Foundation has supported antipoaching efforts all over the world through grants, partnerships, and capacity-building efforts.
- Matching Grants: The SCI Foundation supports SCI Chapters in their efforts to contribute toward conservation projects in their local areas. If a Chapter supports a research or management project, they can apply for matching funds from the Foundation to increase their impact. In 2018, the Foundation contributed over $30,000 to local conservation efforts through matching grants to the chapters.
The annual African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF) is SCI Foundation's premier activity in Africa, bringing together a diverse group of international stakeholders, senior government delegates, professional hunting associations, policy experts and wildlife biologists. Discussions at this forum center on African wildlife issues and coordinating responses to current events.
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Recent Conservation Articles
How Hunting Saved the Bontebok
The bontebok is one of the most extraordinary examples of species population recovery and habitat protection brought about by the efforts of hunters. At the brink of extinction in the early 1900s with approximately 120 individuals, the bontebok population today has rebounded to around 9,150 animals. This fantastic recovery is
Read MoreSCI Announces Conclusion of Texas Trophy Hunters Association Acquisition
Washington – Safari Club International (SCI), the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide, and Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA), Texas’ leading organization for promoting, protecting, and preserving the state’s hunting heritage for future generations, are excited to announce they have concluded their transaction whereby SCI
Read More19th Annual AWCF Scheduled as Hybrid Event for 2021
Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is preparing for the 19th African Wildlife Consultative Forum, to be held November 8-12, 2021. This year’s Forum is hosted by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks at the Cresta Mowana Resort in Kasane. Due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions, in-person capacity is limited
Read MoreSCI/F Supports Indigenous Peoples and Communities at IUCN World Conservation Congress
Today SCI/F affirmed the importance of indigenous peoples and local communities in wildlife conservation at the IUCN World Conservation Congress currently held in Marseille, France. IUCN members, including SCI/F, voted on 41 different motions regarding conservation around the world. Holding the proxy for several other North American organizations unable to
Read MoreFWS to Resume Processing of Sport-Hunted Elephant Import Permits
SCI welcomes the news that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has reached an agreement to begin processing elephant import permit applications again. Since 2017, the FWS has not made any decisions regarding scores of applications seeking permits to import elephant hunting trophies from southern Africa. The FWS signed
Read MoreDove Season Kicks Off
Dove season opens this weekend in many states; did you know that doves are the most harvested species in the United States with around 1 million hunters annually? This is a hunting and conservation success story as they have been sustainably harvested for over 20 years. Dove season opens Sep.
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