The latest and hottest news on federal, state, and international political and conservation events.

2-28-2008

South Africa to Resume Elephant Culling
“South Africa will lift a 13-year-old ban on using professional hunters to reduce burgeoning elephant populations, officials announced Monday, despite opposition from animal rights activists who call such killings barbaric and unnecessary. Conservation officials in several African countries have struggled for years to strike a balance between the beloved animals, which have helped fuel a lucrative tourism boom, and other forms of wildlife whose habitats they devastate. In addition, elephants roaming beyond game parks sometimes trample villagers' crops. Since the ban went into effect in 1995, the number of elephants in South Africa has grown from about 9,000 to more than 20,000. Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk did not say how many elephants could be killed, saying only that some animal-rights groups' estimates of 2,000 to 10,000 were ‘"hugely inflated.’ ‘Culling will only be allowed as a last option and under very strict conditions,’ van Schalkwyk told reporters. ‘Our simple reality is that elephant population density has risen so much in some southern African countries that there is concern about impacts on the landscape, the viability of other species and the livelihoods and safety of people living within elephant ranges.’ For the full story, go here or here (Source: AP/Washington Post

Fish and Wildlife Service to Conduct Status Review of Greater Sage-Grouse
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced … the greater sage-grouse will receive additional review to determine if the species warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service is opening a 90-day public comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to provide information regarding the status of the species. The Service is initiating the new status review to take into consideration relevant new information that has become available since its 2005 finding that the greater sage-grouse did not require protection under the ESA. The Service will evaluate all new information regarding the status and distribution of the greater sage grouse, including the impacts or potential impacts of threats to the species resulting from either human activities or natural causes. The Service also will consider the effects of conservation efforts.” (Source: USFWS)

FWS Publishes Northern Rockies Wolf Delisting
As SCI has previously reported, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has removed the Northern Rocky Mountain population of wolves from the "endangered" species list. On February 27, 2008, the FWS officially published the delisting rule in the Federal Register. The delisting will go into effect on March 28, 2008. On that date the Northern Rocky Mountain population that primarily occupy Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, will no longer receive federal protection. The individual states will assume full authority for management and control of the species. Eleven groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, have already announced their intention to file a lawsuit to challenge the delisting rule. You can view the official rule here SCI will keep you posted on any further developments.

SCI Participates in International Forum
International Affairs Manager Anika Belinfanti attended the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s 13th meeting of the Scientific and Technical body (SBSTTA 13) in Rome Italy, held on February 18-22, 2008. The meeting covered issues concerning the creation of an international legal framework to govern invasive aliens species and the implementation of various measures to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010. SCI monitored each of these preliminary legal measures to ensure that any initial steps towards creating an international legal regime did not compromise hunting interests.

California Proposes More Regs to Implement Lead Ammo Ban
SCI is reviewing regulations proposed by the California Fish and Game Commission to implement the ban on lead ammunition while hunting in condor range it and the State legislature enacted late last year. The bans prohibit the possession or use of lead ammunition while hunting big game, non-game birds, and non-game animals in the area broadly defined as “condor range.” These proposed regulations primarily address the need to certify which ammunition is non-lead and acceptable for hunting in condor range. The proposed certification process will allow public involvement. The lead ammunition ban goes into effect on July 1, 2008. The Commission hopes to have the certification process established and to certify ammunition by that date. The Commission is taking testimony at its March 7 meeting in Stockton and will consider adopting the regulations at its April 11 meeting in Bodega Bay. Written comments are due by March 28

New Push for Multi National Species Funding
SCI is asking its members to contact their federal representatives in support of increased funding for the Multi National Species funds. The Multi National Species Coalition, of which SCI is a founding member, is requesting $2.25 million each for the Asian Elephant Fund, the African Elephant Fund, the Great Apes Fund and the Marine Turtle Fund; $3 million for the Rhino-Tiger Fund; and $6 million for the Neotropical Migratory Bird. The funds, provided by Congress, are matched by donors in public-private partnerships, leveraging three times the U.S. contribution. These valuable investments in conservation do more than save vulnerable species; they contribute to economic and domestic stability by providing employment and education for local people. This will likely be a topic for SCI’s May Lobby Day in Washington D.C. but due to the appropriations calendar, the time to ask for increased funding is now. Please contact your representative today at either http://www.house.gov/writerep/ or http://www.senate.gov/

Coda
I wanted to take a moment to thank SCI staff and its members for almost 5 wonderful years in the Washington, D.C. office. I have left SCI as of today and this will be my last edition of In the Crosshairs, but the D.C. office staff will continue to provide these breaking news alerts to you on a regular basis. Thanks so much to those of you who made my work interesting and fun. I am confident that many good things can be accomplished and I wish my former colleagues in D.C., Tucson and beyond, all the luck in the world.

Special thanks to those who helped enrich my SCI experience over the past 5 years, especially Rick Parsons, Anna Seidman, Gary Swingle and Sezaneh Seymour. All future concerns for state and federal affairs and D.C. communications / press releases should go to the attention of the new acting Governmental Affairs and Communications Manager, Nelson Freeman, at nfreeman@sci-dc.org. KNS;

2-22-2008

Polar Bear Update
At press time, SCI has yet to receive any new information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the potential listing of polar bears. As soon as we receive something, we will send a note out via Crosshairs to our membership.  Thank you.

USAID Update
It has long been said that victory has many fathers, while defeat is always an orphan. Now, last year’s lobbying effort to neuter an anti-hunting restriction on funding assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has met with a late, long-distance paternity claim. The limitation was inserted in a government spending bill not as statute language, but “report language” accompanying the bill. At the end of the year, a revised version of the language was incorporated, again as report language, in the “omnibus” spending bill to fund government operations. Report language differs from statute language in that it does not become law, but rather a form of non-binding guidance from Congress. 

You may have seen a recent press release from a sportsmen’s group, in which the group essentially claims to have single-handedly organized the opposition to this limit on USAID funding. This came as interesting news to the leadership at SCI, NRA, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), all of whom led the lobbying effort -- in real time on the ground -- to defuse the proposed restriction. Further, the release portrays the revised report language as no longer a threat. In truth, report language can be interpreted subjectively, and is often twisted to support the pet agendas of the appropriators in Congress. We, again, are working with our allies to closely monitor any implementation of the report language. This language remains an active threat until the spending bill expires. That’s just part of the territory when the some of the reins of federal spending are held in the hands of anti-hunting Members of Congress. 

The truth is that victory for hunters in Washington, even when partial, always does have many fathers. SCI is proud that we have forged close, day-to-day working relationships with the other major pro-hunting advocacy groups who ply the halls daily on Capitol Hill. All groups bring their own strengths to the effort, and through close coordination, deploy those assets where they are needed most. And we certainly welcome the efforts of smaller groups who contact their own local Congressmen to make their voice heard. All parts of the equation are necessary to victory. 

New River Gorge to Remain Open to Hunting
Legislation introduced by Rep. Rahall (D-West Virginia) would ensure that the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia remains open to hunting. Language contained in H.R. 5137 would amend the statute authorizing hunting in NRGNR by striking “may” and inserting “shall.”  Although the National Park Service currently allows hunting, this legislation would mandate that it continue into the future.  The American Wildlife Conservation Partners, of which SCI is a founding member, sent a letter supporting and thanking Rep. Rahall for finding a “simple solution that will benefit generations of hunters to come.”  In December, SCI filed comments with the Park Service in support of continued and enhanced hunting in NRGNR. 

Rocky Mountain Wolves Finally Delisted 
Safari Club International congratulates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on its February 21, 2008 announcement of the delisting of the northern Rocky Mountain population of wolves. The delisting marks the recovery of the wolf population living primarily in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The rule to delist will be published in the Federal Register on February 27th and will take effect 30 days later. Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains have long exceeded the FWS's recovery criteria and now number in excess of 1500. Upon delisting, states will assume management responsibility for this predator species. Safari Club International has long supported the FWS's efforts to recognize the recovery of gray wolves and is currently participating in litigation to defend the FWS's decision to delist the wolves of the Western Great Lakes. SCI is also seeking to participate in litigation recently filed in Montana that challenges rules giving Montana, Idaho and Wyoming enhanced management authority to lethally remove wolves that are causing harm to elk, moose and deer populations.

SCI Active in Political Arena
SCI’s Executive Director John Eichinger and GAC Chairman Merle Shepard were joined by other wildlife conservation organizations last week to deliver a strong message on behalf of sportsmen and habitat: protect and expand habitat conservation and opportunities for sportsmen. SCI and others met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), Senators Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Russ Feingold (Wis.) and 11 other Senators to discuss issues relating to hunters and anglers. A big topic of discussion centered around the Farm Bill, which is currently in conference between the House and Senate before it heads to President Bush. The President has asked for certain spending caps and SCI and others are fighting to make sure conservation dollars stay where they are.

New Funding for States
"Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced…the distribution of more than $700 million to 56 state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to fund fish and wildlife conservation efforts, boat access, shooting ranges and hunter education. Kempthorne made the announcement at the Bassmasters Classic professional fishing tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. The funding is made available to states and territories through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration and Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration programs, which are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are generated by federal excise taxes on purchases of firearms, ammunition, archery and angling equipment, and boat motor fuels. (Source: U.S. FWS News Release)

USFWS to Increase Fees
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will…increase inspection fees and update license and fee requirements for importing and exporting wildlife, in order to recover more of the costs of inspecting shipments from those who use these services. The Service is also proposing to add new fees for certain types of shipments and eliminate some exemptions from import/export license and inspection fee requirements. Most imports and exports of wildlife and wildlife products must be declared and cleared by Service wildlife inspectors. Individuals or companies engaged in commercial wildlife trade must be licensed by the Service and pay inspection fees for their shipments. Under the fee schedule outlined by the Service, these commercial importers and exporters will see fees rise gradually over the next five years, but they will be able to plan ahead for increased costs through 2012. The flat rate “base” inspection fee for a commercial shipment inspected at a designated port (including ports that function as “designated” for particular types of shipments) during normal business hours will increase from $55 to $85 in 2008. This fee will rise incrementally each year thereafter until it reaches $93 in 2012. The 2008 base inspection fee for all shipments imported or exported at other ports will be $133.  This fee will also increase by small amounts each year, rising to $145 in 2012. All importers and exporters using ports where Service inspectors are not stationed will also pay travel, transportation, and per diem costs associated with inspection of their shipments. The Service is also proposing to charge special “premium” fees for shipments consisting of live wildlife or protected species. Businesses dealing in such wildlife will pay the new premium fees in addition to the appropriate base inspection fee. Details of the Service’s proposal will publish in [the] Federal Register at http://www.fws.gov/le/.” (Source: USFWS)

Court Applies Stricter Scrutiny to Bird Corridors
“The government must require cell phone towers to be equipped with protection for migratory birds, a federal court ruled. The split decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia says that the Federal Communications Commission illegally licensed 6,000 towers along the Gulf Coast. The court says the agency must reassess those permits to make sure the communications towers comply with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act. The decision addresses FCC's ruling on towers in the Gulf of Mexico, but lawyers who argued for environmentalists on the case said it could have broader reach for all of the agency's permits on new communications towers. Aviation lights on communications towers can attract and confuse birds, especially in foggy conditions, environmentalists say. Groups say birds could be saved if FCC would change its requirements for lighting on the towers, placing white strobe lights over the constant red lights, to alert the birds. Some industry groups say the lighting schemes would be expensive and have questionable benefits.”  (Source: E&E News)

Congrats – Lowell Baier
Congratulations to Lowell Baier, this year’s winner of the Budweiser Conservation of the Year award. Thanks in part to the votes from SCI members, Baier will receive $50,000 from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and will apply his prize toward habitat restoration and interpretive projects at Theodore Roosevelt’s historic 23,550-acre Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota. The $50,000 prize can be matched, which could increase the award to as much as $200,000. Baier was also a founding member of the SCI National Capital Chapter. SCI has provided funds to the Park in the past to help preserve the home where Teddy Roosevelt formed his famous conservation ethic.

Fictitious braggadocio, on the other hand, fosters only divisiveness among hunters. The fanatical anti-hunting groups put plenty of effort into dividing hunters as it is, in the time honored strategy of divide-and-conquer. It serves the interest of no hunter to help them. 

2-7-2008

Antis File Lawsuit to Stop Wolf Management
Defenders of Wildlife, HSUS, Center for Biodiversity and other anti-hunting groups, have filed suit in Federal Court in Montana to invalidate a rule designed to give the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming greater management authority over "endangered" wolves that are having an "unacceptable impact" on wild ungulate populations. The rule, that is set to go into effect on February 27, 2008, also deals with the lethal take of wolves that attack livestock, pets and hunting dogs. Last year, SCI filed comments in support of the proposed rule to give the three states the management tools necessary to control the predator species and to reduce the detrimental impact wolves are having on elk and other prey species. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2008. At this time, SCI is considering whether to ask the court to allow SCI to participate to help defend the FWS's decision. We will keep you posted. 

Moritz Promoted to Director of Conservation
Dr. William Moritz has been promoted to Director of Wildlife Conservation for Safari Club International Foundation in the Washington, D.C. office. Moritz joined SCIF in September of 2007, and is responsible for directing all domestic and international conservation programs, especially in Africa, Asia and North America. His team includes Deputy Conservation Program Manager Matt Eckert and Conservation Assistant Shalane Brower. Moritz holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Wildlife Biology and earned his Ph.D. in Zoology. Prior to joining SCIF, Moritz was with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and served in several capacities including Chief of the Wildlife Division. In addition, he has served as Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University critiquing and advising doctoral candidates on their research work. Since joining SCIF, Moritz’s experience and expertise has already helped advance our conservation programs around the world, including his participation at the African Wildlife Consultative Forum sponsored by SCIF in Mozambique last November. 

Safari Club Makes Big Splash at 30th SHOT Show
SCI Executive Director John Eichinger and members of the SCI Executive Committee were on hand to present a check for $250,000 to the National Shooting Sports Foundation in support of their Hunting Heritage Partnership at the 30th annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas. This program allows NSSF to give grants to states for effective projects aimed at increasing the recruitment and retention of hunters. This successful program has donated 2.1 million dollars to state agencies so far. Look for more updates as the Partnership goes forward.

Check Out SCI's New and Improved Website
New videos and informative content have been added to SCI's homepage. Highlighting the latest changes is an interactive map, where anyone can view free reports on the economic impact of hunting for all 50 states. More changes are coming, so make sure you visit www.safariclub.org frequently.