Wildlife Working Group

Record of Decision
Stakeholder Engagement - Wildlife NGOs

May 8, 2007 (1:00 – 4:00pm)

Attendees:

Barry Turner (Ducks Unlimited)
Dr. Terry Quinney (Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters)
Leigh Edgar (Canadian Wildlife Federation)
Ken Harris (Environment Canada)

Regrets:

David Brackett (Wildlife Habitat Canada)
Michel Brenning (Canadian Wildlife Service)
Peter Ewins (World Wildlife Federation)
Julie Gelfand (Nature Canada)
Stephen Hazel (Sierra Club of Canada)
Anne Lévesque (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society)
Thea Silver (Nature Conservancy of Canada)
Stephen Woodley (Parks Canada)

Handouts:

1. Agenda
2. NAHS Policy Development Continuum
3. NAHS Presentation to Wildlife Partners (English/French)

Decision Items:

1. All agreed the Survey on the Importance of Nature to Canadians needs to be updated to accurately quantity, in economic terms, the value of wildlife conservation.
2. In NAHS’ definitions of animal welfare and animal health, there needs to be an understanding that there are special considerations for wildlife populations:
   • habitat quantity and quality are integral to the health and welfare of wildlife;
   • habitat should be part of the definition of wildlife health;
   • typical predator-prey relations may be not be condoned by humans, but is a natural phenomenon in the wild;
   • wildlife management techniques such as controlled hunting, population culls etc are necessary control strategies; and
   • wildlife populations naturally fluctuate over time.
3. Participants recommended that the NAHS be cautious about messaging, particularly as it relates to wildlife. For example the definition of animal health, in a wildlife context, should recognize that disease is a natural phenomenon in the wild and integral to healthy, functioning ecosystems and self-regulating wildlife populations. In addition, the animal welfare issues are generally focused on animals under human control. Although applicable to wildlife, animal welfare issues have special considerations from a wildlife perspective. It was suggested these issues be addressed by developing principles for wildlife and wildlife health in the context of the NAHS.
4. Participants were generally supportive of the NAHS and agreed to participate as wildlife sector stakeholders. All committed to assist in the identification of other key collaborators
5. Participants agreed to attend (or send an alternate) to the NAHS industry stakeholder consultation meeting, June 5-6, 2007, in Aylmer, Quebec. Organizations were urged to bring two representatives.
6. NAHS will provide Leigh Edgar with a summary paragraph of the Strategy to include in her material to the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Annual General Meeting in late May.