North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is a set of principles that has guided wildlife management and conservation decisions in the United States and Canada.[1] Although not formally articulated until 2001,[2] the model has its origins in 19th century conservation movements, the near extinction of several species of wildlife (including the American Bison) and the rise of sportsmen with the middle class.[3][4] Beginning in the 1860s sportsmen began to organize and advocate for the preservation of wilderness areas and wildlife. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation rests on two basic principles – fish and wildlife are for the non-commercial use of citizens, and should be managed such that they are available at optimum population levels forever.

Significance

The North American model has no direct legal powers,[5] but rather has become the basis for policies developed by the Boone and Crockett Club, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, The Wildlife Society, and other conservation groups. The model has been widely accepted by wildlife professionals, incorporated into U.S. state agencies, and endorsed by professional organizations and teaching institutions.[6]

Tenets

The core principles of the Model are elaborated upon in the seven major tenets:[1]

  1. Wildlife as Public Trust Resources
  2. Elimination of Markets for Game
  3. Allocation of Wildlife by Law
  4. Wildlife Should Only be Killed for a Legitimate Purpose
  5. Wildlife is Considered an International Resource
  6. Science is the Proper Tool for Discharge of Wildlife Policy
  7. Democracy of Hunting

Wildlife as Public Trust Resources

In the North American Model, wildlife is held in the public trust. This means that fish and wildlife are held by the public through state and federal governments. In other words, though an individual may own the land up which wildlife resides, that individual does not own said wildlife. Instead, the wildlife is owned by all citizens. With origins in Roman times and English Common law, the public trust doctrine has at its heart the 1842 Supreme Court ruling Martin V. Waddell.[1][7]

Criticism

Some authors have questioned whether the North America Model is inclusive of all wildlife conservation interests or exclusively narrow in its application.[8] The North American model has also been criticized as presenting an "inadequate history" and prescribing "inadequate ethics" of conservation, and in giving recreational hunting disproportionate credit for its role in conservation.[6][9] Critics say some tenets are flawed or misguided, for example that the tenet Elimination of Markets for Game overlooks the conservation success of Europe- where wildlife is privatized and commercialized- and ignores the role of sustainable harvest strategies, or that some hunting activity may be inherently contradictory to the tenet Wildlife Should Only be Killed for a Legitimate Purpose.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Organ, J.F.; V. Geist, S.P. Mahoney, S. Williams, P.R. Krausman, G.R. Batcheller, T.A. Decker, R. Carmichael, P. Nanjappa, R. Regan, R.A. Medellin, R. Cantu, R.E. McCabe, S. Craven, G.M. Vecellio, and D.J. Decker (2012). The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. (PDF). The Wildlife Society Technical Review 12-04. (Bethesda, Maryland: The Wildlife Society). ISBN 978-0-9830402-3-1.
  2. ↑ Geist, V.; S.P. Mahoney; J.F. Organ (2001). "Why hunting has defined the North American model of wildlife conservation." (PDF). Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference 66: 175–185.
  3. ↑ Mahoney, Shane (May–June 2004). "The North American Wildlife Conservation Model". Bugle (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) 21 (3).
  4. ↑ "TWS Final Position Statement" (PDF). The Wildlife Society. March 2007. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
  5. ↑ Petersen, David (2013-03-22). "The North American Model for Wildlife Conservation Is an Endangered Species in Colorado". Huff-Post Denver. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Nelson, Michael P.; John A. Vucetich; Paul C. Paquet; Joseph K. Bump (Summer 2011). "An Inadequate Construct? North American Model: What’s Flawed, What’s Missing, What’s Needed" (PDF). The Wildlife Professional: 58–60.
  7. ↑ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (December 12, 2007). "What do hunters do for conservation?". USFWS Hunting. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Beuchler, M.; G. Servheen (2008). "The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: affirming the role, strength, and relevance of hunting in the 21st century". Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference 73: 163–179.
  9. ↑ "Scientists Call North American Wildlife Conservation Model Flawed". NewsWise. Newswise, Inc. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, July 14, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.