Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Jun 28/99) - Southern and international environmental groups are generally viewed with disdain in the North, but relations seem to be warming, at least in the case of the World Wildlife Fund.

WWF Canada president Monte Hummel was in town, on a return invitation from the Qikitaaluk Wildlife Management Board, which had attended a WWF meeting in Ottawa earlier this year.

During the visit, Hummel invited the QWMB to nominate a member to sit on the WWF board of directors.

One of Hummel's objectives while here was to distinguish between his organization and animal rights groups such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

"By upbringing and inclination I'm extremely sympathetic to Northern interests," said Hummel. "It would be very difficult for me, personally, to get involved in any organization that hurt the people of the North."

Hummel said the WWF is concerned more with species and habitat than with individual animals. He said his organization is not opposed to hunting, as long as its sustainable.

"One of the reasons we support sustainable use is that we believe that's one of the best ways to protect wildlife," Hummel said, reasoning people relying on hunting have the most to lose if numbers dwindle.

"If we don't succeed, the rest of them (conservationists, hunters, environmentalists) won't have anything to fight over, whether they're shooting with a camera or a gun."

The WWF raises about half a billion dollars a year for conservation projects throughout the world and is about three times the size of Greenpeace.