Is CITES protecting wildlife?

Book by Routledge

IWMC is pleased to be allowed to publish Dr. Nikolas Sellheim’s review of an exciting new book by Dr. Tanya Wyatt that lifts the lid on how CITES really works. The conclusions of the book and the reviewer (which differ) are controversial, but the research is solid and their competing views on its meaning cannot… Continue reading Is CITES protecting wildlife?

Environmental Journalist Applauds U.S. Government For Allowing Long-awaited Import of Elephant Hunting Trophies From Zimbabwe

The five-year ban on the import of African elephant hunting trophies into the U.S. has not saved a single elephant. Instead, it created dangerous feelings among affected African hunting communities…

DEFRA, the British Parliament & the Banning of Hunting Trophies to the UK Campaign

An Explanatory Report for Ellie Goodchild Dear Ms. Goodchild, I must thank you for your openness and honest desire to properly resolve this important issue. In order to give you some professional insight into this matter, from the point of view of managing wildlife in Africa, I would like to explain a few facts to… Continue reading DEFRA, the British Parliament & the Banning of Hunting Trophies to the UK Campaign

In Defence of the Grind in Defiance of the EU

Eugene Lapointe accuses the EU of ignoring diplomatic protocol and resorting to cultural imperialism. He says it is exploiting the International Whaling Commission to force the Faroe Islands to abandon hunting cetaceans. But the Faroese islanders respect UN sustainability goals and are compliant with regional treaties that govern the responsible harvesting of whales. An extraordinarily undiplomatic… Continue reading In Defence of the Grind in Defiance of the EU

What we learned from COP26

COP26 was the most hyped and hypocritical gathering ever of the political, business and NGO elites. Even Greta Thunberg’s fearmongering was eclipsed. UK prime minister Boris Johnson said it was ‘a one minute to midnight moment’ before a ‘detonation ended human life as we know it’. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury said world leaders would be… Continue reading What we learned from COP26

Our new study shows lack of recognition of indigenous youth in international conservation law

By Dr. Nikolas Sellheim Introduction In a forthcoming peer-reviewed study in the Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL) entitled “Indigenous youth and international conservation law: Five case studies”, myself and Otava Ojanperä (University of Helsinki) examine five agreements and in how far they consider indigenous youth as legitimate stakeholders. The study was carried out… Continue reading Our new study shows lack of recognition of indigenous youth in international conservation law

Does the UN step up its game (again) to tackle illicit wildlife trade?

Guest contribution by Dr. Nikolas Sellheim. Introduction On 23 July 2021 the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/75/L.116 ‘Tackling illicit wildlife trade‘. The resolution is the fifth resolution of the UNGA after resolutions in 2015, 2016, 2017and 2019 on this very issue. While the underlying narrative is essentially the same – i.e. the protection of biodiversity through the… Continue reading Does the UN step up its game (again) to tackle illicit wildlife trade?

Contextualising the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use

IWMC is pleased to have permission to publish Dr. Nikolas Sellheim‘s overview and comment on the Declaration on Forests and Land Use issued on 2 November 2021 at COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, UK. This article first appeared on his online publication People, Livelihoods & Conservation. Introduction On… Continue reading Contextualising the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use

A People’s Manifesto For The Future Of Conservation

Indigenous, non-indigenous campaigners and experts who attended the world’s first Our Land Our Nature Congress released a manifesto calling for a total halt to the creation of new Protected Areas that threaten human rights. Our Land Our Nature was held in Marseille in September as a counterpoint to the IUCN’s much larger World Congress, which attracted mainly mainstream… Continue reading A People’s Manifesto For The Future Of Conservation

IWMC World Conservation Trust Opening Statement

VSM/2109/OS/NGO/03 IWMC World Conservation Trust Opening Statement IWMC World Conservation Trust wishes to express its gratitude to the Chair of the Commission and its appreciation to the Secretary and her Staff for the effectiveness in arranging this Special Meeting under difficult circumstances. For centuries whaling has been an integral part of cultures all around the… Continue reading IWMC World Conservation Trust Opening Statement