As gevolg van die toenemende bewustheid van die skade wat lood aan wildlewe veroorsaak, insluitend die toenemende klem op lood in multilaterale omgewingsinstrumente en deur die IUCN, het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering in 2019 die Lood-Taakgroep (LTG) gestig. Dit is ‘n subgroep van die Nasionale Wildvergiftigingsvoorkomingswerkgroep waarvan SA Jagters ook ‘n lid is.
Die LTG bestaan uit 16 verskillende organisasies net verteenwoordiging deur die regering, IUCN VSG, gebruikersverenigings (insluitend SA Sports Angling and Casting Confederation, SA Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging, en die Game Rangers Association of Africa), bewarings nie-regeringsorganisasies en akademiese instellings.
Die visie en mandaat van die LTG is om te verseker dat wildlewe nie deur blootstelling aan lood benadeel word nie, en om sleutelaksies te identifiseer en te implementeer om die risiko te verstaan en te verminder.
Uiteraard stem nie almal saam oor alles nie, maar ons is dit eens dat beter oplossings gevind kan word deur saam te werk, om ‘n gemeenskaplike begrip van die bewyse te hê, kwessies en bekommernisse te kommunikeer, en saam oplossings te ontwikkel.
In die LTG fokus ons daarop om te luister, te verstaan, empatie te toon en om betrokke te wees terwyl ons altyd ontvanklik is vir ander standpunte. Dit is noodsaaklik dat almal ten volle ingelig is oor die bewyse en die praktiese beperkings. Dit is in niemand se belang om gepolariseerde standpunte te ontwikkel nie.
SA Jagters was ‘n stigtingslid van die LTG.
THE NATIONAL LEAD TASK TEAM
As a result of the growing realisation of the harm caused by lead to wildlife, including the increasing emphasis on lead in multilateral environmental instruments and by the IUCN, the South African government established the Lead Task Team in 2019. This is a sub-group of the National Wildlife Poisoning Prevention Working Group of which SA Hunters is also a member.
The LTT is made up of 16 different organisations representing: Government, IUCN VSG, user associations (including SA Sports Angling and Casting Confederation, SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, and the Game Rangers Association of Africa), Conservation NGOs and academic institutions.
The vision and mandate of the LTT is to ensure that wildlife is not harmed by exposure to lead, and to identify and implement key actions to understand and reduce the risk.
As can be expected we do not agree on everything, but we do agree that better solutions can be found by working together, including having a common appreciation of the evidence, communicating issues and concerns, and by developing solutions together.
In the LTT, we focus on listening, understanding, empathising, and engaging while at all times keeping an open mind. It is essential for all to be fully informed of both the evidence and the practical constraints. It is in no-one’s interests to develop polarised positions.
SA Hunters was a founding member of the LTT.
