Let Africa Speak – Open Letter to DEFRA
Subject: Involving Range Country Governments as part of Consultations on Proposed Ban on the Import of Legally Hunted Wildlife On 11 October 2019, the CIC sent out an open letter calling for the UK Government to involve range country Governments as part of their consultations on a proposed ban on the import of legally hunted wildlife. The letter was addressed to the Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP1 (Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Rt. Hon. Zacharias Goldsmith MP (Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and at the Department for International Development Affairs).
conservation and livelihood ramifications of such a ban. Despite the best intentions of the proponents of this ban, it was argued that it had the potential to cause serious damage to wildlife populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The UK Government was urged to engage with the relevant Ministries and Departments responsible for wildlife management in the countries that manage the wildlife that would be heavily affected by any potential importation ban. Given the socio-economic and ecological importance of hunting for many South African Development States (SADC), it was suggested that such consultations should involve at least the Governments of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The decision to issue this letter came after the CIC learned of the UK Government’s plans to conduct an urgent consultation on a potential ban on the importation of legally hunted wildlife. There were concerns about the
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