LION- PROPOSED IMPORT PERMIT SPORT HUNTED TROPHIES

[BRICKBURN]

THE BAD NEWS
LET YOUR OPINION BE KNOWN Link below.

This appears to be a concern. It looks like a "new" rule to require FWS permits to import sport hunted trophies, even though sport hunted trophies are not contributing to the species demise!
Smells like an anti hunting agenda to me.

I could not find their news release about the original proposal not gaining the listing.

FWS News release:

Service Proposes Endangered Species Act Protection for the African Lion
October 27, 2014

Following a review of the best available scientific information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed listing the African lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency’s analysis found that lions are in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.

“The African lion – a symbol of majesty, courage and strength – faces serious threats to its long-term survival. Listing it as a threatened species will bring the full protections of U.S. law to lion conservation, allowing us to strengthen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “It is up to all of us, not just the people of Africa, to ensure that healthy, wild populations continue to roam the savannah for generations to come.”

African lions are still found across a large range in Africa, but about 70 percent of the current African lion population exists in only 10 major strongholds.

The three main threats facing African lions at this time are habitat loss, loss of prey base, and increased human-lion conflict. Human settlements and agricultural and grazing activities have expanded into lion habitat and protected areas, putting more livestock in proximity to lions. The lion’s native prey base is hunted by humans at unsustainable levels to meet a growing demand for food for an expanding human population. As a result, lions kill more livestock, which then leads to retaliatory killings by humans.

In addition to proposing ESA protections, the Service is also proposing a rule under section 4(d) of the ESA. The rule, if finalized, will establish a permitting mechanism for the importation of sport-hunted lion trophies, provided that the lions originate from countries with a scientifically sound management plan for African lions. Sport-hunting was not found to be a threat to the species at this time.

“By providing incentives through the permitting process to countries and individuals who are actively contributing to lion conservation, the Service will be able to leverage a greater level of conservation than may otherwise be available,” said Ashe.

The ESA provides numerous benefits to foreign species, primarily by prohibiting certain activities including import, export, commercial activity, interstate commerce and foreign commerce. By regulating these activities, the United States ensures that people under the jurisdiction of the United States do not contribute to the further decline of listed species. The ESA can also generate conservation benefits such as increased awareness of listed species, research efforts to address conservation needs, or funding for in-situ conservation of the species in its range countries.

In addition, the ESA provides for limited financial assistance to develop and manage programs to conserve listed species in foreign countries, encourages conservation programs for such species, and allows for assistance for programs, such as personnel and training.

In 2011, a petition from a coalition of organizations requesting the Service to list the African lion as endangered prompted a formal review under the ESA. On November 27, 2012, the Service published a positive 90-day finding and initiated a status review of the subspecies. In this 12-month finding on the petition, the Service has determined that listing the African lion as threatened under the ESA throughout its entire range is warranted.

The Service is seeking comments from the public for 90 days regarding information pertaining to the African lion. Please go to www.regulations.gov Docket No. FWS-R9-ES-2012-0025 for additional information. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on October 29, 2014, comments must be received by January 27, 2015.

For more information on the African lion and the Service’s proposal, please visithttp://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/african_lion.html.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just in case you thought you won!

FWS Director
Director's Corner
Meet Service Director Dan Ashe.

The African Lion Needs Our Help
October 27, 2014

We proposed listing the African lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Credit: Ken Stansell/USFWS
For centuries, the African lion has been the emblem of royalty – and a universal symbol of strength, nobility and power. But as powerful as lions may be, evidence shows that they need our help to survive.

The lion is part of our heritage as global citizens. Ensuring that healthy populations continue to roam the savannah is up to all of us – not just the people of Africa. That’s why today we proposed to protect the lion under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. (RELATED: What We Do for the African Lion)

Lions are still found across a large range in Africa. Although populations in protected areas of eastern and southern Africa have been relatively stable over the last three decades, lions elsewhere are suffering alarming declines.

That’s because the human population of sub-Saharan Africa is exploding – pushing settlements, grazing and agriculture into lion habitat. Even protected areas haven’t been immune. Humans are also killing the wild prey that supports lions in increasing volumes, consuming these animals and selling them as bushmeat. Faced with declining habitat and prey, desperate lions are increasingly targeting livestock and people – resulting in retaliatory killing of lions.

The human population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to more than double by 2050 – making a bad situation worse. Unless aggressive measures are taken to protect lions, their prey and habitat, the lion will likely face the threat of extinction within that time frame.

MORE INFORMATION
What We Do for the African Lion
Endangered Species Act protection will allow the United States to strengthen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade. We’ll also be able to provide additional law enforcement and on-the-ground conservation support, in partnership with African countries and partner organizations.

We can’t succeed in sustaining lions without working with the people who share the landscape with it – and recognizing their need to feed themselves and their families. We need to work with African nations and conservation organizations to engage and empower local communities to view lions as an asset, not a liability.

For that reason, we’re also proposing an accompanying special rule that would require a permit for the import of any sport-hunted lion trophy into the country.

Lions are not in trouble because of responsible sport hunting. In fact, evidence shows that scientifically sound conservation programs that include limited, well-managed sport hunting can and do contribute to the long-term survival of the species.

U.S. hunters – the vast majority of who strongly support sustainable game management – make up a disproportionately large share of foreign hunters who book trophy hunts in Africa.

That gives us a powerful tool to support countries managing their lion populations in a sustainable manner – and a strong incentive for other nations to strengthen their management programs.

Under this special rule, we cannot and will not allow trophies into the United States from any nation whose lion conservation program fails to meet key criteria for transparency, scientific management and effectiveness.

Permits would be granted if, and only if, the trophies were taken as part of a scientific management program that provides proven benefits to the overall lion population and local communities.

We know that many people around the world care about lions, and we have a public comment period open to allow the public, partners and interested stakeholders to comment and submit additional information that will help us make the best final decision. Please visitregulations.gov to submit your comments.

In the meantime, we will continue collaborative efforts on multiple levels to protect and restore African lion populations across their range.

 

[spike.t]

looks like the rug is being pulled out from under your (usa) feet while you are happily reading about the "victory"...........the wording of that statement is not good at all. wonder what specimen in that organisation gets to decide on the countries that dont come up to scratch in their eyes , especially after their fkd up way of deciding on banning ele from zim etc............................

 

[BRICKBURN]

That is exactly what they have set up Mike. The ability to ban imports of sport hunted trophies.
Their only leverage on the countries is to screw with the hunters, thus the income stream.

 

[sierraone]

THE BAD NEWS
LET YOUR OPINION BE KNOWN Link below.

This appears to be a concern. It looks like a "new" rule to require FWS permits to import sport hunted trophies, even though sport hunted trophies are not contributing to the species demise!
Smells like an anti hunting agenda to me.

I could not find their news release about the original proposal not gaining the listing.

FWS News release:

Service Proposes Endangered Species Act Protection for the African Lion
October 27, 2014

Following a review of the best available scientific information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed listing the African lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency’s analysis found that lions are in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.

“The African lion – a symbol of majesty, courage and strength – faces serious threats to its long-term survival. Listing it as a threatened species will bring the full protections of U.S. law to lion conservation, allowing us to strengthen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “It is up to all of us, not just the people of Africa, to ensure that healthy, wild populations continue to roam the savannah for generations to come.”

African lions are still found across a large range in Africa, but about 70 percent of the current African lion population exists in only 10 major strongholds.

The three main threats facing African lions at this time are habitat loss, loss of prey base, and increased human-lion conflict. Human settlements and agricultural and grazing activities have expanded into lion habitat and protected areas, putting more livestock in proximity to lions. The lion’s native prey base is hunted by humans at unsustainable levels to meet a growing demand for food for an expanding human population. As a result, lions kill more livestock, which then leads to retaliatory killings by humans.

In addition to proposing ESA protections, the Service is also proposing a rule under section 4(d) of the ESA. The rule, if finalized, will establish a permitting mechanism for the importation of sport-hunted lion trophies, provided that the lions originate from countries with a scientifically sound management plan for African lions. Sport-hunting was not found to be a threat to the species at this time.

“By providing incentives through the permitting process to countries and individuals who are actively contributing to lion conservation, the Service will be able to leverage a greater level of conservation than may otherwise be available,” said Ashe.

The ESA provides numerous benefits to foreign species, primarily by prohibiting certain activities including import, export, commercial activity, interstate commerce and foreign commerce. By regulating these activities, the United States ensures that people under the jurisdiction of the United States do not contribute to the further decline of listed species. The ESA can also generate conservation benefits such as increased awareness of listed species, research efforts to address conservation needs, or funding for in-situ conservation of the species in its range countries.

In addition, the ESA provides for limited financial assistance to develop and manage programs to conserve listed species in foreign countries, encourages conservation programs for such species, and allows for assistance for programs, such as personnel and training.

In 2011, a petition from a coalition of organizations requesting the Service to list the African lion as endangered prompted a formal review under the ESA. On November 27, 2012, the Service published a positive 90-day finding and initiated a status review of the subspecies. In this 12-month finding on the petition, the Service has determined that listing the African lion as threatened under the ESA throughout its entire range is warranted.

The Service is seeking comments from the public for 90 days regarding information pertaining to the African lion. Please go to www.regulations.gov Docket No. FWS-R9-ES-2012-0025 for additional information. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on October 29, 2014, comments must be received by January 27, 2015.

For more information on the African lion and the Service’s proposal, please visithttp://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/african_lion.html.

Last night on the PBS News Hour, Jeff Flocken of the International Fund for Animal Welfare was interviewed. He implied that the FWS, by this ruling, had made the lion an endangered species and they could no longer be hunted. The journalist confronted him with the ruling which that is not the case, but that permits would be required now. Flocken dismissed this, maintaining the one thing "we" could do to help the lion is to stop Americans from hunting them. He was obviously concerned with stopping the American trophy hunters, not the continuation of the African lion species. This was opposite of the initial article I read of the ruling on the forum yesterday when hunters were calling the ruling a victory. For those of you that may hunt them in the future, you now have another speed bump to the permit/licensing process. His organization as well as others is after hunters, not the welfare of the lion.

 

[BRICKBURN]

The method to be used by the FWS is to "leverage" the countries into doing first world practices for wildlife management.
As Pete noted, How are they going to fund it? NOT.
So, this "failure" is what the FWS will use to ban imports. i.e.. Zimbabwe Elephant!

THE PERMIT IS NOT SET IN STONE.

IT IS A PROPOSAL!

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS UNTIL JANUARY 27, 2015

"The Service is seeking comments from the public for 90 days regarding information pertaining to the African lion. Please go to www.regulations.gov Docket No. FWS-R9-ES-2012-0025 for additional information. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on October 29, 2014, comments must be received by January 27, 2015."

 

[enysse]

Logical thinking has not been going on in the government of the United States for some time. I really don't see things changing anytime soon....if ever. The future of wildlife management is preservation. This in some utopia way somehow equals blissful wildlife management. The anti's just keep winning.
It seems a majority of the public must be blind, deaf and stupid to not understand if it pays it stays, if it has no value it disappears without a whisper.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Logical thinking has not been going on in the government of the United States for some time. I really don't see things changing anytime soon....if ever. The future of wildlife management is preservation. This in some utopia way somehow equals blissful wildlife management. The anti's just keep winning.
It seems a majority of the public must be blind, deaf and stupid to not understand if it pays it stays, if it has no value it disappears without a whisper.

Looking at the Opinion poll that was done on this the Public wants a different focus than this guy apparently.
But, he is not elected is he!!!! Perhaps his bosses should get their act together and give the Director some direction.

 

[enysse]

No, he is not elected, he is appointed. Obama would have to do something about it, hence the problem. I hate to say this but since Clinton took office it's been a downward slide, Bush didn't do anything good either (honest two cents). I say that because the wolves got out of hand during his presidency and he did nothing to open hunting opportunities. He played the status quo card. I didn't shut anything down but I didn't go out of my way to do anything either...complete stupidity by all.

 

[sestoppelman]

Well there is the difference Eric, Bush didn't do anything, in other words he didn't implement more damage. The current idiot in chief and his minions have done LOADS of damage to all facets of our society and the world at large! That's a big difference. Vote Republican next week and maybe, just maybe some of this crap can be slowed down a bit. It wont stop but it can be slowed down.

 

[BRICKBURN]

No, he is not elected, he is appointed. ……....

My point exactly. His bosses should be giving the Director some direction!
I fell for you guys.
At least for the most part our department follows international treaties.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just got this email from SCI


Safari Club International Frequently Asked Questions about
the Recent Fish and Wildlife Service Lion Decision

On October 27, 2014, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) announced its long-awaited decision about whether the African lion should be listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). A summary of its decision and of its potential effects on hunters is provided by Safari Club International (“SCI”) for its members below in a question and answer format.

What did the FWS decide?

The FWS decided four things.

First, the FWS decided that the lion is not endangered. Under the ESA, a species is endangered only if it is on the brink of extinction. This decision was a defeat for the anti-hunting groups that had petitioned the FWS to list the lion as endangered.

Second, the FWS decided to propose that the lion be listed as threatened. Under the ESA, a species is threatened if it is not currently on the brink of extinction, but is “likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.” SCI disagrees with this decision because the FWS reached this conclusion notwithstanding the fact that 70% of the lion population lives in what are termed “strongholds” in eastern and southern Africa and the protections afforded by the “strongholds” have kept the lion populations in those areas relatively stable for the last three decades.

Third, the FWS decided that lion hunting is “not … a threat to the species at this time,” and that well-managed hunting can provide important conservation benefits for the lion. According to the FWS, the lion is threatened due to a rapidly increasing human population in Africa, which leads to habitat loss, loss of prey-base, and increased lion-human conflict, usually in the form of killings in retaliation for lion attacks on livestock.

Fourth, the FWS decided to propose what is known as a 4(d) rule for the lion. The rule, if finalized, “will establish a permitting mechanism to allow importation of sport-hunted African lion trophies into the United States provided that they are established as originating from countries with a scientifically sound management plan for the African lion.” The implementation of this rule will be of vital concern to hunters, and SCI will vigorously work to modify it to ensure hunters’ ability to import lions from Africa.

How will the FWS’s decision affect lion hunts booked for 2014 or 2015?

The FWS’s decision will not affect those hunts in any way. The FWS’s decision will affect lion hunts in 2016 and beyond only if the proposed listing as threatened and the proposed 4(d) rule are finalized, which will not occur for at least one year. SCI and SCIF will provide comments to the FWS on both proposals, and will keep you informed of any developments in the rulemaking.

If finalized, how will the 4(d) rule affect the importation of hunted African lion trophies for 2016 and beyond?

If finalized, the 4(d) rule will require a hunter to have a permit from the FWS before he or she can import a lion trophy into the United States. The FWS will issue a permit only if the lion is taken from a country that has an “effective lion conservation program,” as determined by the FWS. The FWS claims that, once it has determined that a country has an effective program, it will be able to process permit applications within 30 to 60 days. However, based upon the experiences of SCI members with the permit application process for the importation of other species, some skepticism is in order.

Has the FWS identified any countries with “effective lion conservation programs”?

No. The FWS claims that it currently lacks the information necessary to make any such identifications, although it acknowledges that “many of the range countries have implemented or will implement best management practices.” “Effective lion conservation programs” will be expected to address: lion population levels and trends, the biological needs of the lion, quotas, management practices, legal protection, local community involvement, and use of hunting fees for conservation.

If hunting is not a threat to the lion, why does the FWS believe a 4(d) rule that regulates the importation of trophies is necessary?

The FWS believes that hunting is a source of significant revenue for the range states, and that by regulating the importation of lion trophies, it will give the range states a strong incentive to develop and maintain “effective lion conservation programs.” SCI and the American public believe that this ecological imperialism is unnecessary and the FWS should be working within the international treaty system instead of acting unilaterally.

How will the FWS’s adoption of a 4(d) rule affect the importation of trophies from lion populations in South Africa hunting preserves?

As far as can be determined at this point, the 4(d) rule will apply to the importation of trophies from captive lion populations. However, the FWS specifically states in the proposed rule that the ESA focuses on conservation of lions in their native ecosystems. SCI is very concerned that FWS will use this rule as an excuse to stop importations from hunting preserves. SCI will be working to modify the 4(d) rule to make sure that lions imported from hunting preserves are not subject to the ESA permitting process.

Has the FWS required permits for the importation of trophies of other threatened species besides the lion?

Yes. The FWS requires a permit to import African elephants, leopards, straight-horned markhors, argali and bonteboks. However, many of these species are permitted under rules that are far more hunter-friendly than the proposed lion rule. SCI will be pushing to modify the lion rule to more closely resemble these other rules.

How can I help as an SCI member?

Donations to the Fighting for Lions Campaign (www.fightingforlions.org) will assist SCI in its efforts to develop comments on the FWS’s proposed listing and proposed 4(d) rule that will insure that the decisions are not finalized, or that, if they are, that the 4(d) rule will be workable and properly recognize the conservation efforts of the range states. SCI will also be working closely with the range states to update and improve their lion conservation programs.

For additional information, please contact Nelson Freeman at nfreeman@safariclub.org.

 

[James.Grage]

Thanks Brickburn.

Everyone should be concerned about the rule 4(d)

From my reading this is geared to the South African preserves hunting.

Please read the SCI statement again as their is a lot of information to soak in. If African countries do not implement a “scientifically sound management plan for the African lions” The question will be what is a sound management plan. This will stop lion hunting for US hunters.

 

[BRICKBURN]

After following the Elephant Debacle I was wondering how these guys could turn this to their favour. I smelled smoke in the wood pile.

I guess they have accepted the fact HUNTERS ARE NOT TO BLAME and they are an ECONOMIC ENGINE for CONSERVATION.
However, that does not mean they can not be used and abused to promote a thinly disguised political agenda.

You guys better spend some time and send in some well thought out replies about the realities on this one before the deadline.

I wish you luck. Honestly.

 

[vette447]

It's funny that the FWS posted this the exact day I get back from my Lion hunt that I scheduled for this year becasue I was afraid they would make it next to impossible to get a sport hunted lion back into the US. The first email I saw from SCI made it seem like we "won" and everything was good. However, there are far too many unknowns in what the proposed rule would mean that I am afraid it will be used to ban sport hunted lion imports without actually banning lion imports.

With the current group in charge, their MO is to do just that. They do not outlaw or ban things outright (and in the open), they just make it next to impossible to do things using administrative tactic and paperwork requirements. All they have to do is begin failing to approve permits and lion imports are in effect banned without actually banning them.

Let's all do our best to make good, cogent and factual comments during the comment period. Hopefully someone will listen.

 

[James.Grage]

For your reading.

http://www.news24.com/Green/Ne...dangered-US-20141027

Washington - Loss of habitat and prey are putting African lions in danger of extinction, and the majestic creatures need protection in order to save their species, the US government said on Monday.

"Following a review of the best available scientific information, the US Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed listing the African lion as threatened under the Endangered Species Act," the FWS said in a statement.

"The agency's analysis found that lions are in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future."

Such protection would allow US authorities to toughen enforcement and monitoring of imports and international trade, the FWS said.

Listing an animal under the Endangered Species Act can also help raise awareness and money to help conservation efforts.

These lions still roam across a wide swath of Africa, but the majority of the population has dwindled to 10 major strongholds.

Human settlements are encroaching on lions' territory, putting livestock within easy reach of the big cats and causing conflict with people.

Even more, the animals that lions typically eat are being increasingly hunted and consumed by people.

"As a result, lions kill more livestock, which then leads to retaliatory killings by humans," said the FWS statement.

The FWS decision comes after a 2011 petition from a coalition of organisations requesting the African lion be listed as endangered.

A 90-day comment period will now begin, in which the public can weigh in on the proposed rule. The window closes 27 January 2015.

"It is up to all of us, not just the people of Africa, to ensure that healthy, wild populations continue to roam the savannah for generations to come," said FWS Director Dan Ashe.

 

[PeteG]

How will the FWS’s adoption of a 4(d) rule affect the importation of trophies from lion populations in South Africa hunting preserves?

As far as can be determined at this point, the 4(d) rule will apply to the importation of trophies from captive lion populations. However, the FWS specifically states in the proposed rule that the ESA focuses on conservation of lions in their native ecosystems. SCI is very concerned that FWS will use this rule as an excuse to stop importations from hunting preserves. SCI will be working to modify the 4(d) rule to make sure that lions imported from hunting preserves are not subject to the ESA permitting process.

I'm a little confused by this one...
does this mean that canned hunting is seen as acceptable by FWS?
But not sustainable hunting in preserves unless there are "effective lion conservation programs" in that country?

maybe its too early in the morning and i need more coffee!?!?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I'm a little confused by this one...
does this mean that canned hunting is seen as acceptable by FWS?
But not sustainable hunting in preserves unless there are "effective lion conservation programs" in that country?

maybe its too early in the morning and i need more coffee!?!?

Acceptable? Legal.

I think it means that EVERYONE will have to apply for a import permit for any lion hunted.

That "effective lion conservation program" will be the key to stopping importation of sport hunted trophies.

I can see the folks at the Bubye Valley having a chill run down their spine. A well oil, well managed conservancy in a country without an effective lion conservation program. Import Ban!
Looks like the Elephants scenario.

 

[enysse]

"It is up to all of us, not just the people of Africa, to ensure that healthy, wild populations continue to roam the savannah for generations to come," said FWS Director Dan Ashe.

Fairy land thinking, I wish upon a star....that everything would turn out perfect.

It's a great statement to make to the public, unless you know anything about money, hunting, Africa and wildlife management.

The real side of the story is money keeps things in perspective: creates goals, jobs, income, gives wildlife value...where preservation is hoping and believing people will do the right thing and of coarse writting the check to keep it going out of the goodness of their heart.

 

[PeteG]

I can see the folks at the Bubye Valley having a chill run down their spine. A well oil, well managed conservancy in a country without an effective lion conservation program. Import Ban!
Looks like the Elephants scenario.

This would pose an interesting problem for them to deal with should this go through as described