09 May 2005 - AGRED looks to a global stage for promotion of sustainable utilisation
AGRED is now a fully fledged member of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with membership being confirmed at the annual meeting in Bangkok in November 2004. At the same meeting, Valli Moosa, previously Minister of the Environment in South Africa, was selected as President of IUCN. This should increase support for African agendas, which powerfully include sustainable utilisation.
The Congress also passed a motion recognising that the value of recreational hunting to conservation in South Africa – the full motion is presented in the AGRED Website.
Aldo Berruti gave a presentation on wingshooting as a form of sustainable utilisation of natural resources to the South African office of IUCN on 10 February 2005 and participated in a meeting of the South African section of IUCN on 16 February 2005.
There are reports in the AGRED Webpages of AGRED participation within the Species Listing process for the new South African Biodiversity Act and our role in hosting the preparation of an international Action Plan for the Maccoa Duck. Both indicate an important and critical role for AGRED, in using our expertise in gamebirds and gamebird biology to participate constructively in discussions on the development of national and provincial conservation legislation within South Africa and in participation in national and international Conservation groups. Within these meetings we can influence the understanding and frameworks relating to ethical wingshooting as a valid sustainable utilisation, and as a vital part of the African conservation today.
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