Game management in HungaryGame management in Hungary

Game management and/or Game management and/or Natura2000?Natura2000?

Dr. Miklós HELTAI, Dr. Sándor CSÁNYI, Zoltán SZUDA & Gábor KOVÁCSDr. Miklós HELTAI, Dr. Sándor CSÁNYI, Zoltán SZUDA & Gábor KOVÁCS

Szent István University Institute for Wildlife ConservationSzent István University Institute for Wildlife Conservation

Hungarian Hunters' National AssociationHungarian Hunters' National Association

Legal frameworkLegal framework

Act LV/1996 on game conservation, Act LV/1996 on game conservation, game management and huntinggame management and hunting

Ministerial decree Ministerial decree 7979//20042004 on the on the rules of applicationrules of application

Acts and decrees

Game ownership and hunting rightsGame ownership and hunting rights

Game are state property (res communis)Game are state property (res communis) Hunting right belongs to land-propertyHunting right belongs to land-property

Minimum 3,000 ha continuous propertyMinimum 3,000 ha continuous property Fulfilling ecological, reproductive Fulfilling ecological, reproductive

requirements of gamerequirements of game Reasonable for game management & Reasonable for game management &

hunting purposeshunting purposes Typical use of hunting right: joint group of Typical use of hunting right: joint group of

land-owners (99.2%)land-owners (99.2%) Game management unitsGame management units

Number of game management units: 1Number of game management units: 1363363 Average size: Average size: 67506750 ha ha

State and regional administrationState 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 19 County Hunting Inspectorates (in each county’s Agriculturecounty’s Agriculture Office Office))

Staff: 60 hunting inspectors (civil servants)Staff: 60 hunting inspectors (civil servants)

Higher authorityHigher authority Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development (Department of Game Development (Department of Game Management & Fishery)Management & Fishery)

Central Agricultural OfficeCentral Agricultural Office

Sustainable use of gameSustainable use of game

The goals of the planning system (§ 41)The goals of the planning system (§ 41) long-term survival of game populations and long-term survival of game populations and

protection of habitats and game speciesprotection of habitats and game species mitigation of game management and other mitigation of game management and other

land-use interests (agriculture, forestry)land-use interests (agriculture, forestry) administrative support for the interest of nature administrative support for the interest of nature

protectionprotection Using of Using of professional professional voicevoice of hunting rights of hunting rights

3-level management planning system

Planning systemPlanning system

Tools (§ 42)Tools (§ 42) Regional game management plans Regional game management plans -- 24 24

regionsregions Long-term game management plans Long-term game management plans

(10±3 years) (10±3 years) -- 1, 1,363363 game management game management units units

Annual game management plans Annual game management plans -- approved by the hunting authorities approved by the hunting authorities (county)(county)

Ecologically balanced / wise use of game

Data collection and monitoringData collection and monitoring

Establishment of the National Game Establishment of the National Game Management Database (§ 48)Management Database (§ 48) Spring population reportsSpring population reports Annual management/harvest dataAnnual management/harvest data Trophy scoring dataTrophy scoring data Monitoring programs (wildfowl, non-Monitoring programs (wildfowl, non-

hunting mortality, hunted & protected hunting mortality, hunted & protected predators)predators)

Statistical analyses, GIS, modellingStatistical analyses, GIS, modelling Annual publication of bag statisticsAnnual publication of bag statistics

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

The goals of the planning system (§ 41)The goals of the planning system (§ 41) long-term survival of game populations and long-term survival of game populations and

protection of habitats and game speciesprotection of habitats and game species establishing harmony between game establishing harmony between game

management and the interests of other land management and the interests of other land use(agriculture, forestry)use(agriculture, forestry)

professionally sound use of hunting rightsprofessionally sound use of hunting rights

administrative support for the administrative support for the interest of nature protectioninterest of nature protection

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

administrative support for the administrative support for the interest of nature protectioninterest of nature protection

3-level management planning system3-level management planning system 3 possible level for giving special rules from 3 possible level for giving special rules from

nature conservation authority to GMUnature conservation authority to GMU Every activity which is contraversial with the Every activity which is contraversial with the

aim of protection is forbidden without the aim of protection is forbidden without the permission of nature conservation authority. permission of nature conservation authority.

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Some typical regulation in Natura 2000 areasSome typical regulation in Natura 2000 areas Prohibition of cultivating game fieldsProhibition of cultivating game fields Prohibition of setting up any hunting equipment (e.g.: Prohibition of setting up any hunting equipment (e.g.:

feeding place, water sources, hiding place)feeding place, water sources, hiding place) Prohibition of using fields as a road by off-road carsProhibition of using fields as a road by off-road cars Reducing the hunting season (e.g.: roe deer, predators Reducing the hunting season (e.g.: roe deer, predators

prohibit from hunting in spring)prohibit from hunting in spring) Reducing the number of collective huntingReducing the number of collective hunting Reducing the population size of game species (typically Reducing the population size of game species (typically

red deer and wild boar)red deer and wild boar) On SCIs the populatiopn size should be decreased On SCIs the populatiopn size should be decreased

significantly in a sector of 1 kmsignificantly in a sector of 1 km ( (the treading and the treading and mastication cannot be observedmastication cannot be observed))

Prohibition of rearing game speciesProhibition of rearing game species

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Natura 2000 means Natura 2000 means restrictionrestriction

1057 GMUs are concerned in 1057 GMUs are concerned in Natura 2000, more than 77% of the Natura 2000, more than 77% of the all, on almost 2 million haall, on almost 2 million ha

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Advantages in Natura 2000 areasAdvantages in Natura 2000 areas

The management regulation (e.g. forest and The management regulation (e.g. forest and agricultural management) gives a chance for agricultural management) gives a chance for better quality habitat.better quality habitat.

The total area of supported (working) ESA in The total area of supported (working) ESA in Hungary is bigger than the total area of game Hungary is bigger than the total area of game fieldsfields

There is financial background for Natura2000 There is financial background for Natura2000 areas to better habitat management (eg 33/2008 areas to better habitat management (eg 33/2008 FVM decree edge management, forest stripes)FVM decree edge management, forest stripes)

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Good regulation and financial Good regulation and financial backgroundbackground

((4949 939939 878878 Euro between 2007-2013) Euro between 2007-2013)

Natura 2000 means restrictionNatura 2000 means restriction

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Land owner – hunting rights ownerLand owner – hunting rights owner

- letting of land cultivation to farmers- letting of land cultivation to farmers

- letting of hunting rights to GMUs- letting of hunting rights to GMUs

- have no interest in better management practice- have no interest in better management practice

FarmersFarmers

- must keep Natura2000 regulations- must keep Natura2000 regulations

- incoming / consideration from supporting system- incoming / consideration from supporting system

GMUGMU

- Must keep Natura2000 regulations- Must keep Natura2000 regulations

- have interest in better management practice- have interest in better management practice

- no direct supporting system- no direct supporting system

- no contact with farmers- no contact with farmers

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Solution and role of Solution and role of Hungarian Hungarian Hunters' National AssociationHunters' National Association Dissemination of aim, chance and results Dissemination of aim, chance and results

of Natura 2000 among hunters and GMUsof Natura 2000 among hunters and GMUs Developing better and most useful Developing better and most useful

contact between land owners and GMUcontact between land owners and GMU Developing better and most useful Developing better and most useful

contact between farmers and GMUcontact between farmers and GMU Discussing the typical Natura2000 Discussing the typical Natura2000

restrictions with nature conservationrestrictions with nature conservation

NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in NATURA 2000 vs. Hunting in HungaryHungary

Natura 2000Natura 2000

Chance to habitatChance to habitat

Chance to game speciesChance to game species

Chance to game managementChance to game management

Give a chance to Natura togetherGive a chance to Natura together

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!