Game management in Hungary Game management and/or Natura2000? Dr. Miklós HELTAI, Dr. Sándor CSÁNYI, Zoltán SZUDA & Gábor KOVÁCS Szent István University Institute for Wildlife Conservation Hungarian Hunters' National Association

Legal framework Act LV/1996 on game conservation, game management and hunting Act LV/1996 on game conservation, game management and hunting Ministerial decree 79/2004 on the rules of application Ministerial decree 79/2004 on the rules of application Acts and decrees

Game ownership and hunting rights Game are state property (res communis) Game are state property (res communis) Hunting right belongs to land-property Hunting right belongs to land-property Minimum 3,000 ha continuous property Minimum 3,000 ha continuous property Fulfilling ecological, reproductive requirements of game Fulfilling ecological, reproductive requirements of game Reasonable for game management & hunting purposes Reasonable for game management & hunting purposes Typical use of hunting right: joint group of land- owners (99.2%) Typical use of hunting right: joint group of land- owners (99.2%) Game management units Game management units Number of game management units: 1363 Number of game management units: 1363 Average size: 6750 ha Average size: 6750 ha

State and regional administration Authority of first instance (§ 86) Authority of first instance (§ 86) Hunting and Fishery Authority (Inspectorate) Hunting and Fishery Authority (Inspectorate) 19 County Hunting Inspectorates (in each countys Agriculture Office) 19 County Hunting Inspectorates (in each countys Agriculture Office) Staff: 60 hunting inspectors (civil servants) Staff: 60 hunting inspectors (civil servants) Higher authority Higher authority Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Department of Game Management & Fishery) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Department of Game Management & Fishery) Central Agricultural Office Central Agricultural Office

Sustainable use of game The goals of the planning system (§ 41) The goals of the planning system (§ 41) long-term survival of game populations and protection of habitats and game species long-term survival of game populations and protection of habitats and game species mitigation of game management and other land-use interests (agriculture, forestry) mitigation of game management and other land-use interests (agriculture, forestry) administrative support for the interest of nature protection administrative support for the interest of nature protection Using of professional voice of hunting rights Using of professional voice of hunting rights 3-level management planning system

Planning system Tools (§ 42) Tools (§ 42) Regional game management plans - 24 regions Regional game management plans - 24 regions Long-term game management plans (10±3 years) - 1,363 game management units Long-term game management plans (10±3 years) - 1,363 game management units Annual game management plans - approved by the hunting authorities (county) Annual game management plans - approved by the hunting authorities (county) Ecologically balanced / wise use of game

Data collection and monitoring Establishment of the National Game Management Database (§ 48) Establishment of the National Game Management Database (§ 48) Spring population reports Spring population reports Annual management/harvest data Annual management/harvest data Trophy scoring data Trophy scoring data Monitoring programs (wildfowl, non-hunting mortality, hunted & protected predators) Monitoring programs (wildfowl, non-hunting mortality, hunted & protected predators) Statistical analyses, GIS, modelling Statistical analyses, GIS, modelling Annual publication of bag statistics Annual publication of bag statistics

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary The goals of the planning system (§ 41) The goals of the planning system (§ 41) long-term survival of game populations and protection of habitats and game species long-term survival of game populations and protection of habitats and game species establishing harmony between game management and the interests of other land use(agriculture, forestry) establishing harmony between game management and the interests of other land use(agriculture, forestry) professionally sound use of hunting rights professionally sound use of hunting rights administrative support for the interest of nature protection administrative support for the interest of nature protection

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary administrative support for the interest of nature protection administrative support for the interest of nature protection 3-level management planning system 3-level management planning system 3 possible level for giving special rules from nature conservation authority to GMU 3 possible level for giving special rules from nature conservation authority to GMU Every activity which is contraversial with the aim of protection is forbidden without the permission of nature conservation authority. Every activity which is contraversial with the aim of protection is forbidden without the permission of nature conservation authority.

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Some typical regulation in Natura 2000 areas Some typical regulation in Natura 2000 areas Prohibition of cultivating game fields Prohibition of cultivating game fields Prohibition of setting up any hunting equipment (e.g.: feeding place, water sources, hiding place) Prohibition of setting up any hunting equipment (e.g.: feeding place, water sources, hiding place) Prohibition of using fields as a road by off-road cars Prohibition of using fields as a road by off-road cars Reducing the hunting season (e.g.: roe deer, predators prohibit from hunting in spring) Reducing the hunting season (e.g.: roe deer, predators prohibit from hunting in spring) Reducing the number of collective hunting Reducing the number of collective hunting Reducing the population size of game species (typically red deer and wild boar) Reducing the population size of game species (typically red deer and wild boar) On SCIs the populatiopn size should be decreased significantly in a sector of 1 km (the treading and mastication cannot be observed) On SCIs the populatiopn size should be decreased significantly in a sector of 1 km (the treading and mastication cannot be observed) Prohibition of rearing game species Prohibition of rearing game species

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Natura 2000 means restriction 1057 GMUs are concerned in Natura 2000, more than 77% of the all, on almost 2 million ha

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Advantages in Natura 2000 areas Advantages in Natura 2000 areas The management regulation (e.g. forest and agricultural management) gives a chance for better quality habitat. The management regulation (e.g. forest and agricultural management) gives a chance for better quality habitat. The total area of supported (working) ESA in Hungary is bigger than the total area of game fields The total area of supported (working) ESA in Hungary is bigger than the total area of game fields There is financial background for Natura2000 areas to better habitat management (eg 33/2008 FVM decree edge management, forest stripes) There is financial background for Natura2000 areas to better habitat management (eg 33/2008 FVM decree edge management, forest stripes)

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Good regulation and financial background Good regulation and financial background ( Euro between ) Natura 2000 means restriction Natura 2000 means restriction

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Land owner – hunting rights owner - letting of land cultivation to farmers - letting of hunting rights to GMUs - have no interest in better management practice Farmers - must keep Natura2000 regulations - incoming / consideration from supporting system GMU - Must keep Natura2000 regulations - have interest in better management practice - no direct supporting system - no contact with farmers

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Solution and role of Hungarian Hunters' National Association Solution and role of Hungarian Hunters' National Association Dissemination of aim, chance and results of Natura 2000 among hunters and GMUs Dissemination of aim, chance and results of Natura 2000 among hunters and GMUs Developing better and most useful contact between land owners and GMU Developing better and most useful contact between land owners and GMU Developing better and most useful contact between farmers and GMU Developing better and most useful contact between farmers and GMU Discussing the typical Natura2000 restrictions with nature conservation Discussing the typical Natura2000 restrictions with nature conservation

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in Hungary Natura 2000 Natura 2000 Chance to habitat Chance to habitat Chance to game species Chance to game species Chance to game management Chance to game management Give a chance to Natura together Give a chance to Natura together

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