Division Applied Science

Applied Science, with Gerhard R Damm (South Africa) as Division President is one of the three Divisions within the CIC. The other two Divisions are Policy & Law headed by Mr. Jan Heino (Finland) and Culture headed by Mr. Bruno Chauffert-Yvart (France).

The Division Applied Science 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 within their natural biotopes. 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. The problems of wildlife in the mentioned 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 Division 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 Division works – in collaboration with partners – on concepts to ensure “Best Hunting Practices”. In cooperation with partners from scientific institutions and NGOs from around the globe the Division is also developing a set of Principles, Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Hunting for Africa, Central Asia and South America.

Ongoing projects of the Division:

• Principles, Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Hunting for Africa, Central Asia and South America – a long term project with partners which includes the development, application and scientific evaluation of hunting related data collection sheets.
• Publication of African Indaba: www.africanindaba.co.za
• Support to Germany’s CITES Management Authority in Developing a Method for Aging and Improved Determination of Origin of Ivory (Dr. Rolf Baldus)
• Dialogue with Governmental and Non-Governmental partners in selected countries and provision of services.
• Measuring and Evaluation of Hunting Trophies within the CIC Trophy Evaluation System (Rules and Regulations for Trophy Measuring, CIC Red and Blue Books, Participation in International Exhibitions, Training and Certification of CIC Measurers, Cooperation with Boone & Crockett Club as well as Rowland Ward)
• Migratory species in Africa and East Asia
• Wildlife resource economics
• Wildlife diseases and game-livestock-human disease interfaces
• The taxonomic reference works on Big Game, Small Game and Game Birds (Game Atlas) in combination with morphometric data collection from harvested wildlife including the publication of the CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World in 2012
• The establishment of an electronic reference library on hunting and conservation at the CIC Administrative Office
• Land property regimes and the involvement of indigenous people to promote incentive-driven-conservation by combining conservation objectives with the generation of economic benefits
• Articles and conference papers authored by individual members

President: Gerhard R Damm, South Africa

Deputy-President: Prof. Dr. Klaus Hackländer, Austria

The Division Applied Science concentrates the work of interested volunteer CIC members and CIC Staff, and collaborates closely with scientists, wildlife managers, conservation professionals and governmental agencies from around the world.

The division president and deputy president as well as the organs of the CIC (EC, Council, National Delegations and GA) may name suitable candidates from within the CIC membership and/or outside experts for the division team.