Strasbourg, 15.02.2006 - "Sustainable Hunting" Intergroup discusses management of large carnivores

At a well-attended meeting, MEPs of the “Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity & Countryside Activities” Intergroup first adopted, under the presidency of Michl EBNER (EPP-ED, Italy), a Resolution on invasive alien species, representing the outcome of their previous meeting in December 2005. The meeting was then chaired by Intergroup Co-President Lena EK (ALDE, Sweden) and addressed the issue of conservation and sustainable management of large carnivores in the EU. (photo from left to right: L. EK et M. EBNER)

Guest speakers were two key officials, responsible for hunting in national Ministries for Agriculture, who made presentations on how their respective countries try to cope with increasing populations of large carnivores (resulting in more and more conflicts with the interests of rural communities) and the obligations imposed on them by EU legislation (in particular the 1992 “Habitats” Directive).

Head of Unit “Game & Hunting” Christian KROGELL presented the situation of the Finnish wolf population that has now re-established itself at virtually the same level and distribution range as a century ago. Despite the fact that any regulation of wolves taking place (through strictly regulated hunting) is part of a global management plan, the European Commission had launched an infringement procedure against Finland as they consider its hunting legislation incompatible with the “Habitats” Directive.

The situation in Latvia is rather comparable, explained Senior officer “Forest management & Hunting Division” Linda DOMBROVSKA, as the conservation status of both wolf and lynx there can also be considered as favourable. For this reason, their populations can be subject to sustainable hunting, based on a national management strategy.

From the debate that followed, it became clear that it remains to be seen in how far the Commission will accept these national measures, as well as those of other new Member States, such as Estonia or Slovakia, where large carnivores are managed in a similar way. But MEPs urged the Commission to adopt a more pragmatic attitude towards the conservation of wolves and other emblematic large carnivores, taking into account, in addition to ecological requirements, certain socio-economic considerations. They were of the opinion that if the Commission continues to ignore without sound reasons the feelings and expectations of many countryside people, citizens will show even more distrust towards the concept of a European Union - and this to the detriment of many other aspects of sustainable development. MEPs further underlined the fact that the conservation status of these different species as well as the situation on the ground varies greatly within the EU. When assessing management strategies and plans, the Commission should therefore rely more on local expertise and knowledge, instead of seeking to impose harmonised but possibly less appropriate measures.

The next Intergroup meeting will be held on 15^th March in Strasbourg and deal with the Avian flu and wild bird conservation.

FACE – Federation of Associations for hunting and Conservation of the EU

Manuel ESPARRAGO, publicaffairs@face-europe.org

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