Conservation Force
Conservation Force's mission and purpose is the conservation of wildlife and the natural world. The purpose is to establish and further conservation of wildlife and wild places.
The organization is a pro-hunting advocacy group whose aim is to improve the profile of hunting and hunters worldwide. Conservation Force is involved in a number of conservation projects worldwide. A full run-down on all of their initiatives can be found on their website: www.conservationforce.org
One of Conservation Force's greatest success stories to date is that of the conservation of the African lion. In 2002 Conservation Force along with the International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife (IGF) and with a generous grant from a Mr. Steven Chancellor undertook the most comprehensive study of the status of the African lion.
The study of all of Africa included material from more than 50 consulting authorities across the continent. The result, contrary to what the anti-hunters would have us believe, showed that lion numbers have not declined drastically over the past decade. The numbers are stable and tourist hunting is a key means to ensure the long term survival of the African lion.
In 2004, at the CITES convention, Kenya with the backing of the animal rights groups proposed that the lion be place on CITES appendix 1. This would have effectively stopped lion hunting.
Kenya's proposal set out to give exposure to Kenyan wildlife authorities as the supposed leaders of African wildlife conservation, a fantastic way to generate money for their various organizations and agendas.
The proposal was a direct attack on the tourist hunting industry aimed squarely at undermining it with little regard to the damaging effects to genuine conservation efforts throughout the continent.
Fortunately Conservation Force and other pro-utilization groups were ready for this assault. Through intense lobbying and the presentation of the real facts the Kenyans were forced to withdraw their proposal which was based on half-truths and omissions.
The Osprey Filming Company produced a 20 minute documentary " The Fate of the African Lion " for Conservation Force. This was used in the lobbying process and we like to think that in a small way we helped towards the cause. Copies of this program are available from Conservation Force
Watch " The Fate of the African lion "
Requires "Quicktime" Player.
