APPLIED SCIENCE
Applied Science Division
Distribution of game and other wildlife species, the occupation and use of existing and new habitats, the impact of contagious wildlife diseases, local, regional and global wildlife resource economics, hunting systems and in particular trophy hunting, the sensitivity of ecosystems to anthropogenic and climate influences, and other related fields are sectors in which the Division Applied Science is or plans to be active. This includes the evaluation of manipulative management regimes which aim at producing sustained annual harvests and of custodial management regimes which aim at preserving threatened species of wildlife and habitat.
One of the principal objectives of the Division Applied Science is to promote concepts, which ensure the use of wildlife as a renewable resource and provide sustainable revenue streams for local communities as well as funding for wildlife conservation programmes. Our approach of choice is Incentive-Driven-Conservation, where the aspects of various forms of land ownership, the cultural and economic aspirations of local residents and communities and the interests of local and international hunters are combined to produce socially acceptable and sustainable conservation outcomes.
Wildlife conservation problems, including over-exploitation and destruction of natural resources, and conflicts from the interaction of wildlife with rural human populations and livestock can only be solved if rural communities are involved in wildlife management process at grass roots and if the members of the communities draw commensurate economic benefits from sustainable and regulated use regimes.
Regulated hunting, including subsistence and local recreational hunting as well as hunting tourism and trophy hunting can contribute positively towards the conservation and empowerment objectives. Whilst regulated and controlled subsistence and recreational hunting assist in providing food security and maintain important local cultural and traditional values, well-designed hunting tourism and trophy hunting programmes are principally considered as funding sources for conservation and rural community projects. All types of hunting need to be well organized, transparent and follow sustainability principles as defined in the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity as well as Good Governance rules.
The Applied Science Division incorporates some of the projects and task of former CIC Commissions and Working Groups (i.e. Exhibition and Trophies, Big Game, Small Game, Tropical Game, Migratory Birds and Agri-Environmental Measures). Matters from these former commissions which relate to Policy and Law are handled by the CIC Division Policy & Law.
The Applied Science Division cooperates with the CIC Headquarter staff, the CIC Divisions Policy & Law and Culture, the regional CIC Coordination Forae and national CIC Delegations. The Division president and deputy president report to the organs of the CIC as defined in the CIC Statutes.
There is no doubt that a number of issues are cross divisional – it is therefore our stated objective to cooperate with all colleagues from the CIC divisions Policy and Law as well as Culture.