World Archery recently announced that it is officially taking part in the UN’s call for the sport sector to join the global campaign for climate neutrality. Yet many doubt if environmentalism and hunting can work together in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that there are hunting and fishing aficionados in America who have banded together to help mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment. .
Can Hunting and Environmentalism Work Together to Achieve Climate Neutrality?
Governments encourage seasonal and regulated game hunting to help in wildlife conservation. However, conservationists argue that hunting is not totally good for the environment as there have been wildfire incidents that were started by careless hunters and campers. While burning of fossil fuel is the main cause of climate changes, wildfires that have been more frequent in recent years, have increased the amount of CO2 taken in by the Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists estimate that wildfires have contributed between 5 and 10 percent in global CO2 emissions, which in the past 20 years have annually emitted as much as 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide. While some forest fires started due to natural causes, 85% of the wildfires that occurred in the U.S. were caused by humans, either accidentally or intentionally. It’s as if many are still unaware that careless acts, like leaving campfires unattended, throwing cigarettes in brush piles, or burning of debris on grasslands or in forests can lead to forest fires.
Nonetheless, there are environmentally-conscious local hunting organizations that conduct orientations on wildfire prevention. Hunters and fishers alike are joining social movements by forming non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on climate activism and communication.
Inasmuch as the Trump administration does not take the calls for climate action as serious enough to require federal support, hunting NGOs are urging, as well as educating their members to observe measures for fire prevention, drought protection and wetland restoration/creation.
World Archery Participation in the UN Climate Action Initiatives
In joining the UN Climate Action Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the World Archery Federation wants to set an example that even if archery is a sport that does not contribute much to the planet’s carbon footprint, change should take place everywhere. The federation has taken initial steps by changing office policies and eliminating use of plastic bottles in international archery events.
However, on that note, we hope World Archery, will likewise encourage bowmen to come together as hunting organizations that will educate and communicate to members and to new recruits, the need to take climate actions.
While the American Crossbow Federation (ACF), for one, provides crossbow education to the general public, programs are focused mainly on the attributes of crossbows for modern hunting and for effective game management. Even as we are in the business of selling crossbow equipment, we should support the calls for climate action by carrying out initiatives in keeping the environment and the ecosystems healthy. After al,l crossbow hunting expeditions rely on their robust existence.
As an aside, those looking to engage in crossbow hunting can find a crossbow here that can meet their budget and physical abilities.