Post by Nittro on Jun 25, 2019 10:45:57 GMT -5
FROM THE OFAH EMAIL JUNE 24TH:
Chronic Wasting Disease is a major threat to Canada's native cervid species and nearly impossible to eradicate once it becomes established in an area.
Just ask stakeholders in the three Canadians provinces, and the 26 states within the U.S. where the fatal disease has been detected.
The catastrophic impacts of CWD on deer, moose, elk, and caribou is why the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters has been helping to lead the fight to keep this disease out of Ontario and other jurisdictions. These efforts were highlighted earlier this year when the OFAH invited experts from across North America to the OFAH Conference on Chronic Wasting Disease.
Some of the top experts from natural resource management, ecology, molecular biology, human health, epidemiology, wildlife policy, psychology, sociology, economics, Indigenous perspectives, and veterinary medicine came together to help emphasize and establish the need for an integrated approach to addressing the threats posed by CWD. One of the primary outcomes of the conference was the establishment of a new working group to combat CWD across the country Canadians Concerned about CWD. This collaborative is a necessary approach to help achieve meaningful action on CWD.
"Hunters know about the threat posed by CWD, but recognition beyond our community is limited and government actions have not matched the level of threat we face," explains OFAH wildlife biologist Keith Munro. "The 2019 Conversation on CWD Conference was intended to grow the understanding of CWD in Canada, and establish a diverse group who can collaboratively advocate for broad and integrated action. Our best hope to safeguard our wildlife, culture, health, and economy from CWD is by speaking with a single unified voice."
That voice is behind the release of The Conference on Chronic Wasting Disease Report.
This report proposes a series of recommended actions for provincial and federal governments and drives home the impact that CWD has and will continue to have across our country if we don't act now.
"CWD is bad for cervid species. It's bad for the economy. It's bad for people," Munro adds. "We need to continue to drive that message home with the general public and policy decision-makers across Canada."
Please read the report today, and join the fight at www.ofah.org/ccac.
