Tropical Game Commission

The Commission offers its support and cooperation to countries and organizations in Africa, Asia and South America in setting up efficient management programs for endemic game species and their biotopes. This includes protection plans for threatened species. The problems of wildlife in these regions are often caused by an increasing expansion of the human population. This can result in the over-exploitation and destruction of natural resources including wildlife and its habitats. In many cases, poaching is part of the problem, and is widespread and difficult to prevent. The involvement of rural populations in wildlife management is therefore indispensable.

One of the principal objectives of the Commission is to promote management concepts, which will ensure the use of wildlife as a renewable resource and provide revenues for the local population. This is the only way of assuring the general acceptance by the local population of measures against poaching and the destruction of vital habitats.

Hunting tourism can generate funds for conservation and rural communities, if it is well organized and follows sustainable and Good Governance principles. The Tropical Game Commission works – in collaboration with partners – on concepts to ensure “Best Hunting Practices”.

Ongoing projects of the Commission:

• Principles of Sustainable Tourist Hunting – a long term project with partners
• Publication of African Indaba by Gerhard Damm: www.africanindaba.co.za
• Publication of a book on sustainable hunting in Russian language
• Hunting dialogue with Governmental and Non-Governmental partners in selected countries and provision of services
• Trophies and record books: Concepts and principles in a changing world
• CITES and hunting trophies
• Articles and conference papers by individual members

President of the Commission: Dr. Rolf D. Baldus

Vice-presidents: Raquel Reguera, Gerhard Damm, John J. Jackson III and Eric Turquin

Apart from CIC members the Commission closely collaborates with scientists, wildlife managers and conservation professionals from around the world, who themselves are not members of the organization.

The Commission works as part of the CIC Division for Policy and Law, which is headed by Prof. Count Torsten Mörner, President of the Swedish Hunters Association.