Federal Ammunition Supports the Boone and Crockett Club’s Poach and Pay Project – Outdoor Wire

Report on a Strategic Partnership Advancing Sustainable Development Goals Through Wildlife Conservation

Executive Summary

A strategic partnership between Federal Ammunition and the Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) exemplifies a targeted effort to advance key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through wildlife conservation. The collaboration, centered on B&C’s “Poach and Pay” research program, directly addresses the environmental and institutional challenges of illegal poaching. This report outlines the initiative’s objectives, findings, and direct alignment with SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Alignment with SDG 15: Life on Land

The partnership’s primary focus is the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and the halting of biodiversity loss, a core objective of SDG 15. The initiative contributes specifically to the following targets:

• Target 15.7: By funding and promoting research into the true cost of poaching, the “Poach and Pay” program takes direct action to end the illegal hunting and trafficking of wildlife.
• Target 15.5: The program’s goal of deterring future wildlife crimes is essential for reducing the degradation of natural habitats and protecting species from extinction.
• Conservation Impact: As stated by B&C Chief Executive Officer Tony A. Schoonen, the research provides a “defensible assessment” of the conservation cost, establishing that poaching results in the loss of a “valuable public resource” and is not a victimless crime.

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The initiative reinforces the principles of SDG 16 by promoting the rule of law and strengthening institutional frameworks for environmental governance.

• Promoting Rule of Law: The program makes a clear distinction between legal, regulated hunting activities and illegal poaching, thereby supporting legal frameworks that govern wildlife management.
• Informing Policy: According to Federal’s Conservation Director, Jon Zinnel, a key objective is to leverage the research to “help develop policies that will deter future crimes.” This contributes to building effective and accountable institutions capable of combating wildlife crime.

Alignment with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The collaboration between Federal Ammunition, an industry partner, and the Boone and Crockett Club, a conservation organization, is a model for the multi-stakeholder partnerships advocated for in SDG 17.

• Public-Private Partnership: Federal Ammunition’s “Trailblazer in Conservation” sponsorship provides critical financial and institutional support for B&C’s research and advocacy efforts.
• Shared Objectives: The partnership demonstrates a commitment to the mutual interests of science-based wildlife management and conservation, leveraging corporate resources to achieve globally recognized sustainability goals.

Program Initiatives and Dissemination

The “Poach and Pay” program has undertaken several key actions to achieve its objectives:

1. Comprehensive Research: The program conducted an extensive, research-based assessment to quantify the financial and ecological magnitude of poaching in the United States.
2. Public Education: Findings and statistics have been compiled into educational materials, including handouts and posters, for dissemination through online and social media platforms.
3. Resource Accessibility: All research materials and program information have been made publicly available on the Boone and Crockett Club’s website to ensure broad access for policymakers, educators, and the public.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to two Sustainable Development Goals:

   • SDG 15: Life on Land: This goal is central to the article, which focuses on combating the poaching of wildlife. The Boone and Crockett Club’s “Poach and Pay” program, supported by Federal Ammunition, aims to research and address the illegal killing of wildlife, which is a direct threat to terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. The article states that poaching is a “major problem” and that it results in the loss of a “valuable public resource.”
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article explicitly details a partnership between a private company (Federal Ammunition) and a non-profit conservation organization (the Boone and Crockett Club). This collaboration, described as a “Trailblazer in Conservation sponsorship,” exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to achieve sustainable development objectives. The text notes that “strategic partnerships, such as its sponsorship from Federal Ammunition, have contributed to many of the club’s accomplishments.”

2. Specific Targets Identified

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.” The entire “Poach and Pay” program is a direct action aimed at ending poaching. The program’s goal to find “the real cost of wildlife crimes” and help “develop policies that will deter future crimes” is a clear effort to address the supply side of illegal wildlife activities.
   • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.” The relationship between Federal Ammunition (private sector) and the Boone and Crockett Club (civil society) is a textbook example of this target. The article frames this as a “commitment from industry partners” that supports “science-supported wildlife management and conservation.”

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

   The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

   • For Target 15.7:
     • Research and Data on Poaching: The article mentions “extensively researched Poach and Pay Program” and its “defensible assessment” of the problem. The statistics and findings from this research serve as an indicator to understand the “magnitude of the problem” and the “conservation cost of poaching.”
     • Policy Development: An implied indicator is the development of new policies to combat wildlife crime. The article mentions the goal of “helping develop policies that will deter future crimes,” suggesting that the number and effectiveness of such policies would be a measure of success.
   • For Target 17.17:
     • Existence and Continuation of Partnerships: The “Trailblazer in Conservation sponsorship” itself is an indicator of a functioning partnership. The article notes that Federal Ammunition is proud to “continue supporting” the club, indicating an ongoing and sustained collaboration.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 15: Life on Land	15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species.	Defensible assessment and statistics on the conservation cost and magnitude of poaching (from the “Poach and Pay” research). Development of new policies aimed at deterring future wildlife crimes.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	The existence and continuation of the “Trailblazer in Conservation sponsorship” between Federal Ammunition (private industry) and the Boone and Crockett Club (civil society).

Source: theoutdoorwire.com