Giovenco Industries Safety Manual



A Submission

By

Douglas D Shupe

Dundas Valley NSW

On

Ministerial Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks in NSW

To

Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW

The Secretary

Taskforce on Tourism and National Parks

GPO Box 7050

Sydney NSW 2001

Introduction

I wish to suggest some proven methods to assist in the realisation of the following State Plan Objectives:

• identifying ways to promote and protect our state's biodiversity and cultural heritage values through appropriate use of the national parks;

• creating a platform whereby visitor numbers and tourism expenditure can be increased; and

• Identifying ways to increase management resources and conservation benefits from tourism in national parks.

I am a conservation hunter licensed by NSW to hunt on Forests NSW. I am also a high school teacher, member of the NSW Teachers Federation, past president of The Nepean Hunters Club Inc, member of the Sporting Shooters of Australia and Secretary of GameCon NSW Inc.

I started hunting forty years ago and still actively participate. Last year I returned from a successful Elk (Wapiti) hunt in the mountains of Western Wyoming. Hunting is a highly valued social, economical and environmental activity throughout the Western United States. Rural communities in the USA experience many challenges similar to those experienced in country New South Wales. In particular, issues regarding wildlife disease, threatened species, predation of farm live stock and the sustainability of native animals. Hunting is an intrinsic element in the protection and promotion of biodiversity worldwide.

Hunting has been demonstrated as a cost effective method of managing wild animals so future generations of Americans can continue to enjoy them. When conservation hunting is accepted as an additional method of controlling pest animals it will be of enormous social and environmental benefit to NSW citizens and to the estates of National Parks and Wildlife. Seasonal hunting is employed to maintain the health of an animal population or conversely, continuous hunting may be used to greatly decrease animal populations.

I believe that controlling pest animals with the intent of preserving biodiversity is a desirable and attainable goal. This belief is supported by the following comment from DECC’s Draft Regional Pest Management Strategies:

“Pests are among the greatest threats to biodiversity throughout Australia. In New South Wales, they have been identified as a threat to 657 of 945 (70%) species, populations and communities listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; more than any other process except the destruction and disturbance of native vegetation”.

After the majority of a pest animal population has been culled the unit costs escalate dramatically for any remainders. Programs are halted when costs become too high and so a small residual population of pest animals is left to breed and re-establish their population. This results in a continual cycle of increasing pest animal populations and ongoing expenditures of public money. National Parks has costed the shooting of wild Deer in the hundreds of dollars per animal. Conservation Hunters can accomplish the same goal with a cost of a few dollars. Indeed the hunter would bear most costs, not the taxpayer.

Just as in Wyoming, South Africa and many other governments around the world; Victorians have embraced hunters as key stakeholders and valuable partners in the control of pest animals. NSW by contrast has resisted the adoption of hunting as a control measure. Hunting schemes have been running in Victoria for decades. Victorian hunters can stalk much of the states public land and even hunt National Parks for Sambar Deer. Paying $40 for an annual licence, several thousand hunters are regularly heading bush. Despite the high numbers, hunters have acted responsibly and there has been almost no negative interaction with other park users. ‘At the end of the day hunting, especially stalking is one of the lowest impact control measures. It is also highly target specific.

Ted Turner, is a hunter as well as a media pioneer and also America’s largest private landowner. He has worked tirelessly to restore the American bison through much of its range. Now he manages some two million acres (800,000 hectares) in the U.S. for biodiversity and for sustainable ranching, timbering, fishing and hunting.

“It starts with managing the land properly,” said Turner, who allows paying visitors to hunt for quail, bison, elk, antelope, wild turkey, and other species on his properties. “You need good healthy land for good healthy animals. They need good water, good cover, and good food. If you’re missing any one of those three things, you won’t have animals. I maintain my ranches with wildlife being the top priority. I am trying to do the smart thing for the environment instead of the dumb thing. I want others to see what can be done with the land even if they’re not billionaires.”

Turner has found a way to make hunting pay for conservation. At his Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico and Colorado, he allows a few hunters to kill about 200 trophy elk each year some 2 percent of his 10,000-elk herd. Each hunter pays $10,000, which brings two million dollars in revenues annually. “Now, that’s a pretty acceptable figure,” said Turner, who uses the income to keep his 600,000-acre (240,000 hectares) property in a relatively wild state, with few fences and with preference given to indigenous plants and wildlife.

Hunters of more modest means contribute to conservation in other ways, giving 280 million dollars annually to organizations such as Pheasants Forever, the Ruffed Grouse Society, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited, and other non-profit groups, which sponsor scientific research for particular species and maintain important habitat. Since its formation in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 11 million acres (4.5 million hectares) of wetlands and associated uplands. Hunters also focus public attention on conservation issues in state legislatures, in Congress, and in the marketplace. When someone buys a camouflage camisole ($24.99) from the Ducks Unlimited catalogue, a portion of the proceeds goes to conservation projects. If you visit Bozeman, Montana, and buy a pair of Schnee’s Pac boots, you will find a tag dangling from the laces, along with a promise that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will receive some of your money for elk conservation projects. 2

Establish a working group

The above paragraphs demonstrate that hunters are acknowledged in other societies as conservationists and to emphasise that NSW hunters are an untapped resource for managing our complex pest animal problem. What is needed is a new direction and common sense initiatives that will place hunters in the forefront, as a motivated stakeholder in conserving our national parks.

I would like to recommend the formation of a working group so that hunters can work in partnership with NPWS management in order to achieve better outcomes for controlling pests. Hunters could also assist with non-hunting initiatives such as providing data for surveys etc. Hunter organisations can assist through the provision of licensed, trained and accredited hunters in a volunteer capacity to

• Identify areas where pest animal population exist

• Aid in the identification of pest distribution

• Identify the presence of new pests or pest populations before they become established

• Assist in the assessment of the impact of pest animals

• Assist in the physical control of pest animals

• Disease monitoring and acting as human sentinels for early warning

The Draft Regional Pest Management Strategies (2007) outlines the following key areas in relation to pest management:

Manage pest populations to minimise their impact on neighbours,

• Increase community understanding of the adverse impacts of pests on biodiversity and Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage, and

• Support cooperative approaches and participation in pest management programs with the community and other agencies.

2 Managing pest populations to minimise their impact on neighbours

One immediate advantage of a cooperative working relationship with hunters would be the ability to instigate cross boundary controls. Right of pursuit could allow hunters to put pressure on the pest populations ranging on private property when they move from National Parks. This would reduce their economic impact on the livelihood of the landholder.

3 Increase community understanding of the adverse impacts of pests on biodiversity and Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage

By increasing the involvement of hunters, the level of community involvement is automatically increased. Hunting is accepted as a cultural right for indigenous Australians but is an unappreciated element of the multi-cultural heritage of other citizens. Community perceptions of who has a cultural right to hunt increasingly alienate and marginalise most modern hunters. Your stated objective to “protect our state's ….. cultural heritage” can be assisted by allowing hunting in National Parks. Hunting fosters good mental health according to James A Swann3 author, environmentalist and psychologist. Mr Swann elaborates on the spiritual aspects of hunting in his book, In Defence of Hunting.4

He asserts that, “Hunting can be a path to spirit if you can surrender to its power and become proficient in the act of executing the kill. Some people may charge that killing animals to get “high” is egotism at its worst, self-indulgence, and a power trip without compassion. These charges can only be levelled by someone who has never honestly hunted. Often, people who make such statements present themselves as being “spiritual”. Frankly, I think they would be accurate to say they are self righteous. A truly spiritual person does not judge others if they are following and honest path of the heart, and among the paths to spirit, there is that of the hunter.” Excerpt from page 34.

One of the few sociological studies of hunting motivations has been completed by Dr Stephen Kellert,1 of Yale University, described three basic types of US hunters. They are the meat, recreational and nature hunters. Nature hunters were the minority at 17% and meat hunters the majority at around 43%. The average person has considerable difficulty understanding the concept of a nature hunter. But Dr Kellert interviews revealed that they enjoy being outside and have a deep “affection, respect, and reverence” for nature. Most reveal that hunting is more than a sport. To them, it is ultimately a sacred act with as much as or more meaning than participation in organised religion.

We have, in NSW, opportunities to value add to the charter of the NSW Game Council and its nature hunters by expanding an existing model that is empathetic to our unique flora and fauna.

I maintain that the psychological make up of a nature hunter is synonymous with NSW’s Conservation Hunter which is an ideal match with the need of your organisation to “promote and protect biodiversity”. The philosophy of nature hunters could be fostered by hunting organisations and elder hunters. Nature hunters are a paradoxical mystery to most people. When nature hunters return home empty handed, not having fired a shot they report feeling happy and recreated by being in the great outdoors.

Unfortunately, knowledge about the socio-economic benefits of hunting is virtually unknown in modern New South Wales.

I would like to recommend that hunting clubs be encouraged to adopt a section of NPWS holdings and commit time and resources to:

• The identification and control of pest animals.

• Locating, monitoring, and assisting in the removal invasive plant species.

• Restoring habitat through tree plantings

• Identify and monitor native animal recovery patterns

4 Support cooperative approaches and participation in pest management programs with the community and other agencies.

I would like to emphasise that established hunting clubs would be willing to accept an approach from the NPWS to participate in formal pest management programs.

The benefits of Conservation hunting to existing pest management principles

The draft pest management plan lists the following principles needed to ensure the effectiveness of pest management undertaken by the NPWS.

• Pest control is targeted to species/locations where benefits will be greatest

• Development of control priorities are set by clearly defining the problem to be addressed i.e. specific impacts are identified so that the purpose of control is clear

• Where relevant, pest control is collaborative and across tenure, that is, undertaken on a landscape approach

• Early detection of new incursions and rapid response is considered a high priority as this is the most cost-effective form of pest control

• Priority is given to mitigating the impacts on biodiversity of a pest that has cultural significance, whilst minimising impacts on cultural values

• The aim of most pest control programs is to minimise the adverse impacts of pests, as many exotic pests are already widespread (e.g. foxes, blackberries) and for these species eradication is not possible

• The focus of control programs is directed towards the values to be protected, because killing pests, by itself, does not necessarily minimise their impacts due to the fact that ecological processes are complex and can be affected by a range of factors

• Risk assessments are undertaken prior to pest control, where required.

• Pest management strives to strike a balance between cost efficiency, target specificity and animal welfare

• Where appropriate, pest control employs a combination of control methods and strategies (integrated pest management)

• Pest control programs take a holistic approach, given that the control of one pest may benefit other pests, in that they attempt to control all significant pest threats at a site

• Pesticide use complies with relevant legislation and is employed in a manner that minimises impacts on the environment

• Pest management programs are often integrated with other land management activities such as fire management and recreation management

• Monitoring is being implemented, at varying levels, to demonstrate and improve the ongoing effectiveness of control programs

Hunters can assist in the following areas because conservation hunting is target specific. Elder hunters possess expertise in tracking animal sign and its identification. This skill has been passed down through generations. Formal structures already exist for transferring traditional knowledge onto others. Conservation hunting will assist in the targeting of specific populations of pest animals and facilitate the formation and implementation of a plan that covers both initial control and subsequent mopping up operations

1 Development of control priorities are set by clearly defining the problem to be addressed i.e. specific impacts are identified so that the purpose of control is clear.

Information gathered by hunters can be combined with local knowledge of NPWS staff to more accurately define the problem which will assist in a more accurate decision making process.

2 Where relevant, pest control is collaborative and across tenure, that is, undertaken on a landscape approach

By fostering relationships with neighbouring rural property owners, hunters would play a significant role by pressuring pest animal populations in both national parks and private property. I have participated in a conservation project near the Windemere Dam that has been in operation for several years. Nepean Hunters Club Inc entered into a cooperative agreement with the leaseholder which resulted in the successful elimination of large numbers of feral animals. Soil erosion has been minimised. This control program created an additional revenue stream for the farmer while dispensing with the need to expend money on pest animal control measures. The security of his property was enhanced due to hunters witnessing incidents of trespassing (illegal hunting) which were reported to the leaseholder and subsequently to the police. Similar benefits would be experienced by the NPWS.

3 Early detection of new incursions and rapid response is considered a high priority as this is the most cost-effective form of pest control

Hunting is typically carried out away from established tracks, in areas that groups such as campers and bushwalkers do not frequent. Hunters commonly carry GPS devices and can log the position of infestations allowing NPWS to precisely follow up and implement a rapid control response.

4 Priority is given to mitigating the impacts on biodiversity of a pest that has cultural significance, whilst minimising impacts on cultural values

Deer are valued and admired throughout the world and are recognised under NSW legislation as a Game Animal. Deer occur in relatively low numbers in most areas and allowing the hunting of Deer (just as in Victoria) will significantly reduce the likelihood of current deer populations increasing.

The following gives my comment on DECC’s Draft Regional Pest Management Strategies control options:

1. Determine the distribution, population size and type of deer present on NPWS managed lands and record on the pest database.

Hunters can assist NPWS by providing experienced hunters who understand Deer behaviour. This will assist NPWS increasing its knowledge of Deer in the area.

2. Identify suitable techniques for the control of deer.

Hunters are currently used in Australia and throughout the world to control problem Deer populations. Port Macquarie and the Illawarra are tow local areas where hunters and the Game Council have assisted with Deer control.

3. Seek research assistance into deer control programs.

Hunting has long been recognized as a management tool in the Alpine National Park in Victoria and overseas.

4. Develop and implement deer control programs where required.

Hunters possess significant expertise in such programs and can assist NPWS in developing cost effective and efficient programs

5. Investigate potential of using armed forces to assist in control programs.

This suggestion may only be valued as a brainstorming exercise. The military does not have ready access to suitable ammunition and firearms for culling animals such as Deer and goats. Military ammunition (223 calibre (5.56mm) projectile with a weight of 62 or 70 grains) in a full metal jacket design will not result in a humane kill, since the non-expanding bullet is not designed for hunting. Projectiles vary greatly in design and I strongly suspect the inappropriate selection of projectiles lead to the controversy surrounding the culling of brumbies.

5 Pest management strives to strike a balance between cost efficiency, target specificity, and animal welfare.

Volunteer hunters would add little to the cost of current programs but would significantly increase their effectiveness. Hunting is very target specific and is humane when placed in the appropriate context.

6 Where appropriate, pest control employs a combination of control methods and strategies (integrated pest management).

Use of hunters would be an addition to existing control methods as it currently operates on Forests NSW. The assistance of hunters would have little impact on NPWS budgets which would be a significant benefit as the existing budget could be stretched further to achieve other organisational goals.

7 Pest control programs take a holistic approach, given that the control of one pest may benefit other pests, in that they attempt to control all significant pest threats at a site.

Hunters can be employed to mop up the residual populations and function as a limiting influence on other pests who could benefit from the sudden reduction in population of a competitor / predator.

8 Pesticide use complies with relevant legislation and is employed in a manner that minimises impacts on the environment.

Hunters could be used to locate and identify pest plants and animals through the reporting of the GPS bearings of relevant sightings. This approach is supported by comments in the DECC’s Draft Regional Pest Management Strategies plan that:

“Where new pest incursions occur, early detection and local eradication is the most cost-effective way to minimise the impacts. The NPWS will work with other agencies to prevent the introduction of new pests and to respond rapidly when new incursions occur.”

9 Monitoring is being implemented, at varying levels, to demonstrate and improve the ongoing effectiveness of control programs.

Hunters’ returns on animals taken and sighted and hunter involvement in activities such as spotlight surveying would greatly assist the NPWS in monitoring the effectiveness of control programs.

The enforcement costs and costs to National Parks and farmers from ongoing illegal hunting can be greatly reduced by permitting access to Conservation Hunters. “In the United States, landholders found that neither closing their properties to the public nor opening them up as a gesture of goodwill prevented illegal trespassing and shooting and vandalism. However, participation in organised fee payment for hunting programs was effective in controlling these offences.”6

Conservation Hunting will address your stated objective to increase management resources and conservation benefits from tourism in national parks. Hunters, after all, are simply tourists who hunt, improve conservation and camp and spend money in regional towns. “Recreation in the great outdoors is a vital and necessary part of modern life in Australia. However, recreational opportunities are very much dependent on the amount of available space. The available space is dependent upon government policies regarding public access to national parks and forests and upon government policies regarding public access to national parks and forest and upon the attitudes of landowners towards public access to their private land. Improved communication between farmer organisations, National Parks and State Forests, hunters, four-wheel-drive groups and several other recreation groups with an interest in accessing private rural lands (or National Parks) would improve understanding and an awareness of mutual responsibilities, which may lead to improved opportunities for outdoor recreation in rural areas.”6

assistance from other departments

As I have previously mentioned the NSW Game Council which is a government agency that could greatly assist the NPWS in managing pest animals. This organisation already has the expertise, systems and infrastructure necessary to assist with the pest animal problem in National Parks.

“Illegal pig hunting significantly disrupts programmed control works and Police Intervention of armed hunters may be required in several locations along the escarpment”.

Peak hunting groups such as GameCon NSW Inc has advocated proactive policing of illegal hunting for many years. It is also generally accepted that the presence of legal hunting has the beneficial affect of displacing and suppressing illegal activity of all types.6 Be assured that illegal hunting occurs in National Parks now and in the past.

The provision of data regarding animals observed and removed would assist NPWS in identifying dense of pest populations and facilitate a rapid response.

conclusion

Currently, only approved users can carry hunting equipment on NPWS estate. I would like to encourage National Parks and Wildlife Service to establish a committee to consult with representative hunting organisations in order to discuss an approval process for conservation hunting in our National Parks. This would safe guard biodiversity, increase tourism and associated revenue while assisting in the maintenance of a rich hunting cultural that has existed for centuries. Improved conservation would result due to decreased pest animal populations. Operating costs could be contained due to the greatly reduced costs of managing pests.

The opposition to hunting in National Parks is primarily an emotional and populist notion that has little basis in fact. Such opposition primarily emanates from politically astute Animal Rights zealots who promote a philosophy of providing animals the same legal rights as humans. Animal Libbers even make analogies between human slaves and their historical fight for equality with animals. Peter Singer, our own Animal Rights champion and author of the book, Animal Rights, advocates consensual sex with animals.5

Recently, the mass media has perpetuated an urban myth which many blindly accept as fact i.e. the causal “Link” between animal cruelty and interpersonal violence. Ms Samara McPhedran, who now holds a Phd in Psychology, debunked this myth in her 2006 paper, Animal Cruelty, Interpersonal Violence, and Hunting – A Critical Review. (See attachment A, Executive Summary pages i – iv)

In addition, opposition to hunting is also a permeation of persistent fear campaigns mounted by hoplophobic organisations.

Hunting as a conservation tool has been accepted for many decades throughout the world. It is primarily used by other societies as a humane technique for optimising native animal populations but hunting can and should be utilised for maintaining pest animals at low population levels in New South Wales. Instead of allowing hunting for a few weeks a year as in other parts of the world, we should allow hunting for extended periods which will have the significant impact of limiting the range and population increases of feral animals.

The hunting community is not imploring others to take responsibility for the environment, as other groups typically do; we are volunteering to invest our time, energy and finances to work in partnership with NPWS of NSW.

I look forward to your response with anticipation.

Douglas Shupe

Bibliography

1. Stephen Kellert, “Attitudes and Characteristics of Hunters and Anti-Hunters” (transactions of the Forty-third North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, 1978)

2. Robert M Poole, “Conserving Hunters” National Geographic Magazine, November 2007

3. James A Swan Ph.D., “Hunting and Mental Health”, IWMC Forum, November 27 2004

4. James A Swan, “In Defense of Hunting”, Harper Collins, San Francisco 1995

5. Cathy Young, “No Heavy Petting” Boston Globe, April 11 2001

6. E Barclay, “Attitudes to Illegal Trespass and Shooting on Farms”, Policing Issues & Practice Journal, April 2004, Vol 12, No2

A. Attachment, Samara McPhedran, University of Sydney, Animal Cruelty, Interpersonal Violence, and Hunting – A critical review, September 2006.

B. Attachment, James A Swann Ph. D., Hunting and Mental Health

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