Hunting and wildlife management in Denmark N iels Kanstrup Danish Hunters’ Association

Hunting right Ownership Free hunting at sea Wildlife Waterbirds, small game, deer Hunters 160,000 licence holders 90,000 members of DHA

Members 1 April 2002 – 31 March 2006 Chairman – independent Danish Hunters’ Association Danish Society for the Protection of Nature Dansk Agriculture 2 members Birdlife Denmark Danish Forestry Society Animal Welfare The Outdoor Council Danish Fishery Organisation World Wildlife Fund Co-management – DK example I Wildlife Management Council Established 1979 Legal basis: Act for Hunting and Wildlife Management Advises the Minister of the Environment in management of wildlife Wildlife = Wild mammals and birds

Annual income hunters x 500 DKK = 80 mil. DKK Co-management - Example II Hunting licence fee Established 1931 Legal basis: Act for Hunting and Wildlife Management Spendings: Wildlife Management Research Wildlife Reserves Grant to NGOs

Mandatory Report from all hunters Total annual bag: 2,7 game Co-management - Example III Bag statistics and analysis Established 1941 Legal basis: Act for Hunting and Wildlife Management Volountary Wing survey Total annual return: 10,000 wings Established 1979 Gadwall (Anas strepera) ♀ ♂

National Norest and Nature Agency Districts invite local hunters to advise on nature management and hunting management in the local area. Co-management - Example IV ”Hunters’ Fora” Established 2001 Funded by Hunting Licence Fund

Central initiative Co-management - Example V Wildlife Reserves i EEC SPAs proposals Users invited in the local areas: Groups and subgroups Central Committee involved Result 45 new reserves: Core areas + zoning

Initiative by Wildlife Management Council Co-management - Example VI Guidelines for ethical hunting Implemented by Danish Hunters’ Association Builds on 6 ”regards”: to Public opinion regarding hunting to game populations for the individual game that you hunt for non-hunters to your hunting companions to safety

The EU and its impact on hunting

The need of international cooperation Regional (f.x. Nordic/Baltic) European Global Migratory species Climate and oceans Utilization and trade

The European Council Heads of states/governments The Commission 25 members appointed by Governments The Council of Ministers One minister per land. The European Parlament 732 members elected by the European citizens The Court 15 judges and 9 Advocats General Den European Union

There is no EU hunting policy... but: There are a number of Regulations and Directives likely to directly or indirectly affect hunting in practice

European legislation from a hunter’s point of view

 Protection, management and regulation of wild birds  Lays down rules for their exploitation  Hunting prohibited « during the various stages of reproduction or during their return to their rearing grounds »  Derogations are possible  Special Protection Area  Lists of huntable birds "Birds" Directive 79/409/EEC

 Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora  Exclusive protection of the species mentioned in its annexes  Derogations enabling strictly controlled hunting  Creation of a European Network of protected areas - Natura 2000 "Habitats" Directive 92/43/EEC

113 danske EF-Fuglebeskyttelsesområder og 254 Habitatområder

Stakeholders

Hunting management in the Nordic area Promotion og the Nordic wildlife management and hunting traditions Seven members Secretariat by Danish Hunters’ Assocation

”Watch dog” in Bruxelles 32 members in European countries FACE represents 7-8 mio. European hunters.

Established1930. Global Open to organisations, governments, experts and private persons Sustainable utilisation of nature resources Engage communities in nature conservation and inform about the role of hunting Commissions: Big Game, Migratory Birds, Small Game etc

Other organisatios: BirdLife International Bird protection European Environmental Bureau Europæisk Naturfredning COPA / ELO Agriculture

Other organisations