WWF is dedicated to protecting the earth’s wildlife and the ecosystems that support us all. Myriad threats have led wildlife populations to decline by an average of 52 percent globally since 1970. Success in conservation requires the use of a range of approaches to address the world’s environmental challenges.



In certain limited and rigorously controlled cases, including for threatened species, scientific evidence has shown that trophy hunting can be an effective conservation tool as part of a broad mix of strategies.



At the same time, WWF opposes any hunting that threatens species or habitat sustainability.



Importantly, WWF does not support trophy hunting unless it demonstrates both conservation and community benefits.



Conservation programmes that include trophy hunting must be sustainable and benefit the wildlife populations of affected species, their habitats and associated ecosystems. They must also benefit local communities and be legally, culturally and religiously appropriate within the region, and meet other minimum conservation standards.



Further, these programmes must be very strictly managed. As such, WWF believes trophy hunting should only be considered on a case-by-case basis.



When strict criteria are met, multi-pronged conservation strategies including trophy hunting enable communities to prioritize habitat and wildlife conservation over alternatives such as cattle raising and converting habitats for farming. They include putting people on the ground to monitor and protect lands and wildlife, and offset the costs and dangers of living with wildlife.



Such programmes have enabled communities to invest funds in long-term wildlife conservation and sustainable development. They have proven to be vital to communities where remoteness and lack of facilities limit the availability of other livelihood options, such as ecotourism.



As part of its work, WWF provides long-term scientific and technical advice to improve the management of some conservation programmes involving trophy hunting, with the goal of ensuring both people and wildlife can thrive.