International Conventions, Agreements, and Membership
South Africa is a signatory to several international conventions, which places certain responsibilities on the country. Through its conservation office, SA Hunters’ conservation office participates in national initiatives linked to these conventions as required and when in line with the objectives of the Association.
CITES is a multilateral treaty aimed at protecting endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. This convention has specific relevance to wildlife custodians in terms of hunting and trade quotas of species such as rhino, lion, and leopard, as well as the international trade in hunting trophies.
Where appropriate, SA Hunters comments on trade proposals, listing and de-listing of species, non-detriment findings and quotas that are set for sustainable trade. The Association supports the responsible and sustainable trade in wildlife if it does not have a detrimental impact on the survival of the species.
SA Hunters supports the trade in wild-managed populations when the trade maintains the conservation and management of wild populations, their associated habitat and the wildlife custodians caring for the species and their habitats.
The IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations and conservation organisations, such as SA Hunters. By harnessing the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 member organisations and the input of about 15,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
The IUCN provides public, private, and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge, tools and projects that enable societies, economies, and nature to thrive together. These include data, assessments and analysis, trusted standards, neutral convening fora, and capacity-building resources. The opinion of the IUCN on various aspects carries substantial weight at a local and international level.
SA Hunters became a member of the IUCN in 2019 after our application was supported by other conservation organisations that recognise the role the Association plays in promoting responsible resource utilisations, while demonstrating our active role in conservation through an array of projects. SA Hunters is a member of the national IUCN Steering Committee, together with other conservation organisations and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.
SA Hunters participates in meetings and initiatives that promotes conservation and responsible use, including the development of IUCN motions that often serves as guiding documents in policy processes.
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland, and the Canadian Archipelago.
The AEWA was developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) to unite countries and the wider international conservation community towards establishing coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds throughout their entire migratory range. Therefore, it is important for SA Hunters to participate in relevant discussions because many of these waterbirds are used or hunted in their range states. The impact of lead on these species is also of concern and is an important topic for discussed.
The Convention on Migratory Species is an environmental treaty of the United Nations that provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats.
CMS brings together the states through which migratory animals pass, i.e., the range states. It lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range. No explicit mention of lead ammunition is made in the Convention’s legal text. However, Art. III(4) includes a broad requirement to reduce/control factors that are endangering or likely to further endanger the species listed on Appendix I.
Biological diversity is the web of life that consists of resources on which future generations depend. Despite its importance, people’s actions are often eroding this resource, leading to impoverished ecosystems and threatened resources.
Every gene, species and ecosystem lost, reduces the planet’s ability to cope with change. It impacts on our quality of life and, impedes our own survival in a constantly changing world. This Convention represents an important part of the effort to address these issues.
Given the key role that the public plays in achieving the aims of the Convention, it is important that members understand the challenges we face and their impact, and the opportunities we have to influence the future for the better.
