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Seals and Sealing

Fact Sheet on Karakul Lambs

Fast Facts

Conservation and Environment

Environment

In todayís heavily populated world, most natural eco-systems need careful management to ensure that all species survive and that natural environments are preserved. For some abundant species this means population management to prevent damage to the environment and other species. The World Wildlife Fund and other conservation groups promote ìthe sustainable use of wildlife and other renewable resourcesî because this can provide an economic incentive for protecting vital natural habitat. The fur industry relies on and uses wildlife products, we have a direct interest in protecting habitat and maintaining wildlife populations through sustainable use..

Sustainable Use

The sustainable use of renewable resources is a principle supported by most governments and underlies all conservation organisations nationally and internationally, including the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Since 1978 the IFTF has contributed more than $5million to support a wide range of welfare and conservation projects.

Local and native populations rely on the land and their habitat for survival. Their livelihood depends on protecting and enhancing their habitat and essential ecosystems. These people have a direct commitment to the land and a unique, detailed knowledge of ecosystems and species with which they are in contact. Hundreds of years of experience have given them the understanding and the experience to protect the wilderness and exercise effective programs of sustainability.

Today as special interest groups attack the very activities that makeup the livelihoods of these indigenous groups they facilitate the encroachment of industrial development and the disruption of wildlife habitat that comes with it. Without the ability to trap or hunt and sell by-products such as skins, these indigenous and remote people would be forced to turn to other activities for their livelihoods, opening up their territories to mining, oil drilling or other interests.

Encouraged and supported by the IFTF, an Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) was signed in 1997 by Canada, the EU and Russia. The same year the US entered into a similar agreement. IFTF continues to support research into humane welfare standards for fur bearing animals.

Endangered Species

The international fur trade does not trade in endangered species and all furs traded are from abundant populations. The IFTF supports the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which strictly regulates any trade in threatened species and prevents trade in endangered species, and has been a full member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) since 1985.

ìThe fur trade has contributed to funding research into the status of leopard and cheetah in Sub-Saharan Africa, in co-operation with IUCNÖ.î (IUCN 1991)

For more information about the fur tradeís support and commitment to conservation and the environment please click on the buttons to your left.