Today kicks off the first of three individual weeks in Safari Club International Advocacy’s Big 5 Summer Series.Throughout this summer, SCI will be highlighting the most pressing issues affecting hunting and conservation around the world through panels, informative sessions, and testimony from the experts. SCI members and advocates will have the most updated information on our legislative priorities around the world and have opportunities to take action through our Hunter Advocacy Action Center (HAAC).
The first series will cover the latest on International Hunting and Imports, with a focus on southern Africa and trophy ban legislation. SCI’s EVP Ben Cassidy will be featured on Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s panel on June 23: Unintended Consequences: How American Trophy Import Bans Harm Conservation Efforts Abroad. Other virtual events will include messages from Members of Congress, videos from Africa, and much more.
The current threats to international hunting are everywhere: a proposed animal rights initiative in the UK, an advancing trophy ban in Belgium, U.S. state legislation, and growing cultural anti-hunting pressure. On Tuesday, June 21, the House Committee on Appropriations will markup the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Last year, the final appropriations bill included Section 436, a defacto trophy import ban on lion and elephant imports from Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. SCI fought and won to defeat Section 436, but there is a high chance it resurfaces in this year’s bill. Stay tuned throughout the week on this developing issue!
Hunting in Africa is critical to species and habitat conservation, economic development and sustainability, and most importantly, community livelihoods. Not only do foreign governments not have the right to regulate another country’s resources, but unfounded bans on hunting or imports will have lasting detrimental effects to conservation and communities. Without the revenues, management, and initiatives of hunters, wildlife and wild spaces in Africa may not survive.
During this week, SCI will bring awareness to these and many more issues surrounding international hunting. Be sure to stay tuned on our social media @official_sci for this week’s focus on international hunting and imports!
TAKE ACTION: Oppose Trophy Bans Around the World!
Below find the full schedule of SCI’s top five topics for Summer, 2022.
Series 1: Week of 6/19, International Hunting Imports
Series 2: Week of 7/10, State Management Authority and Pittman Robertson
Series 3: Week of 7/24, Traditional Ammunition and No-Net-Loss
For more information, visit: https://safariclub.org/big-five-series/
