SCI Opposes Section 436 of Interior Appropriations Bill
Safari Club International (SCI) strongly opposes the inclusion of Section 436 of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2022, which is now set for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. If the bill passes with Section 436 included, it will be sent to the U.S. Senate with a blanket funding ban on the import of a sport hunted elephant or lion from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia. This ban will have a devastating impact on species conservation and African communities. We need your help in ensuring this bill does not become law – contact your Representative today and urge them to OPPOSE the inclusion of Section 436 in H.R. 4372, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
Well-regulated international hunting is vital to wildlife conservation, maintaining biodiversity, and habitat protection in southern Africa. Hunting programs generate revenues to fund the wildlife conservation programs of range nations, provide communities with direct and indirect economic incentives and employment, and generate resources for anti-poaching and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
SCI, along with 21 other organizations representing millions of American sportsmen and women, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader McCarthy detailing the detrimental impact this legislation will have on these countries. By effectively banning trophy imports, Section 436 of the Interior Appropriations ignores the overwhelming scientific research documenting the benefits of hunting for wildlife and rural people, and the African voice in opposition to the measure coming from both government authorities and community stakeholders. The vast majority of wild African animals live in the countries where they are hunted and have seen substantial population growth, largely thanks to the resources provided by hunting.
In response to this destructive language, Representative Jeff Duncan of South Carolina has introduced an amendment to Section 436 of the Interior Appropriations Bill, completely striking the funding ban language. SCI strongly urges all members of Congress to support this amendment and remove Section 436.
An effective ban on trophy imports is a misguided attempt to dictate the management of African wildlife, a right which inherently belongs to Africans. Congress must understand the realities of conservation on the ground in Africa, and therefore strike Section 436. As SCI works for hunting and conservation, we will continue to stand for African leadership, fight for science-based legislation, and be First for Hunters around the world.
