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Hunting and conservation – the Bulgarian experience from the viewpoint of a conservation NGO. Hunting management in Bulgaria – general context. The hunting rights are not connected with the land ownership Almost all lands and forests outside the villages are considered as hunting grounds
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Hunting and conservation – the Bulgarian experience from the viewpoint of a conservation NGO
Hunting management in Bulgaria – general context • The hunting rights are not connected with the land ownership • Almost all lands and forests outside the villages are considered as hunting grounds • There is clear local ownership of the hunting rights. It is not possible legally to hunt without permission of the owner of the hunting rights for the region • 85% from the Hunting Grounds are managed by Hunting Associations, majority of them are united in the National Hunting and Fishing Association, about 130 000 organized hunters, generally not very good control against poaching; • 10% from the Hunting grounds- private hunting companies – mainly for pleasure of wealthy people, very good control against poaching • 5% - state hunting companies – generally very good control against poaching
The legislation Bulgaria ratified the Bern Convention in 1991. The Convention was transposed without significant conflicts in the new Biodiversity Act (2002) and Hunting Act (2000). ENGOs participated in active way in their preparation. Habitat and Birds Directives were transposed in the Biodiversity act (2002). The Bulgarian national legislation is stricter in some directions than the requirements of the Bern Convention and the both Directives. The legislative context support “the ownership” of the non-migratory game and its sustainable management.
The present situation There is a boom of the Bulgarian economy in connection to EU accession. The trade with lands for development and land speculations are among the leading forces for the Bulgarian economy. The significant amount of the investments are from unknown origin (trough offshore firms). Natura 2000 network is in the final process of its establishment but for the moment all sites exist only on paper. The key sites and habitats are destroyed in unprecedented way Small hydropower stations were established along almost all Bulgarian mountain rivers destroying valuable places for wildlife and salmon. Unique steppes and meadows were turned into Golf courses or wind mills parks. Key habitats for Broun Bears, Chamois and Capercaillie are destroyed in order to organize land speculations in the mountains. The old-growth forests in the whole country are under extremely heavy pressure from legal and illegal logging.
From conflicts to collaboration • The beginning of 90s was connected by massive protest by Bulgarian NGOs (in some case very emotional) against hunting on wolves and bears and use of poisons and traps. Later both sides saw that they are on common position on many other issues (as poaching, etc). • A few years ago BirdLife Bulgaria signed Agreement for Collaboration with the National Hunting and Fishing Association (following the Agreement between FACE and BirdLife International). • Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation is collaborating more than 10 years with State Forest Authorities and NHFA. • Typical examples for this collaboration include: • support for the existence of the hunting reserves; • establishment of new protected sites; • fight against building new Hydropower stations; • Development of the species action plans;
Studen kladenez Studen kladenez is an IBA, which was declared as SPA. The majority of the site is a hunting reserve at NHFA, which is inhabited by more than 1000 Fallow deer, more than 15 breeding pairs Griffon vultures, one nest of Black Vulture (1993), a few nests of Egyptian vultures, Cormoran and Heron colonies, otters, wolves, bear (1990s). NGOs and NHFA have good collaboration for more than ten years – no poisoning in the reserve, wildlife tourism (wolf watching).
Studen kladenez Twice NGOs organized campaign in support of the existence of this hunting reserve. The hunting reserve and the SPA are seriously threatened by illegal and legal building activities. BBF proposed to establish a zone inside the SPA where all building activities will be forbidden. This was supported by NHFA. Last week National Hunting Association together with BBF and BSPB submitted a proposal to declare the hunting reserve as protected site (IUCN IV category). The protected site will solve the problems with habitat destruction and fragmentation and will contribute for the conservation of all local biodiversity.
Studen kladenez Twice NGOs organized campaign in support of the existence of this hunting reserve. The hunting reserve and the SPA is seriously threatened by illegal and legal building activities. BBF proposed to establish a zone inside the SPA where all building activities will be forbidden. This was supported by NHFA. Last week National Hunting Association together with BBF and BSPB submitted a proposal to declare the hunting reserve as protected site (IUCN IV category). The protected site will solve the problems with habitat destruction and fragmentation and will contribute for the conservation of all local biodiversity.
The Capercaillie • It is large grouse species; • It requires old-growth coniferous forests with rich blueberry undercoverand deadwood; • It is rather expensive and popular hunting trophy. It is a priority species for many wealthy hunters; • Its number is in decline in many European countries; • It is included in Annex I of Bird Directive
Capercaillie as umbrella species • Investigations in Bavarian Alps found that good Capercaillie habitats are more used from Black and Three-toed Woodpeckers than other forest habitats • Similar investigations in Switzerland found that the Three-toed Woodpecker, Woodcook and Pygmy owl tended to occur together with the Capercaillie • Investigations on the Three-toed Woodpecker showed that its presence coincide with the distribution of many threatened saproxylic beetles
Our short-term goal is to declare a few new protected areas using the Capercaillie as flagship species in collaboration with hunters in Western Rhodopes Our long-term goal is to ensure a few hundred km2 old-growth forests protected by the forestlegislation as ‘Capercaillie leks” in Western Rhodopes, Osogovo and Stara Planina.
These Capercaillie conservation activities are fully supported and partially funded by State Forest Agency and the hunting community. The future implementation of the restrictions on forest uses in the Capercaillie leks will be adequate of the enlargement of the present Bulgarian protected areas network with about 5% new territories. This will benefit many other endangered but less popular species in its habitat. It will be very difficult to achieve their protection without the support of the hunting community.
The Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) • Balkan Chamois is endemic subspecies for the Balkan Peninsula • It is included in Annex II and IV of Habitat Directive; • It is expensive hunting species but its hunting is forbidden in the EU • The sustainable hunting provide viable incentives in a few hunting reserves for species and habitat protection
The Balkan Chamois • Very well adapted for life in inaccessible for other animals conditions and very vulnerable for poaching (it is among the first species which will be exterminated by the poachers) • The density can reach more than 10 animals per 1 km2 and the species is important grazer • Good prey for the lynx and favorite food for the Bearded vulture
The Balkan Chamois • The species inhabited the National Parks of Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan and a few hunting reserves in Rhodopes mountains. • It is strictly protected species in Bulgaria since 01.01. 2007 • There is a Species Action Plan which allows hunting quotas in the hunting reserves under specific circumstances
The Balkan Chamois The hunting community strongly support designation of new protected areas in order to stop building activities in the habitats of the Balkan Chamois (two already established, IUCN IV cat.). Our goal is to establish new protected areas with the active support of the hunting communities.
The future Solving problems with: • management of the migratory game (requests to increase the hunting season for waterfowl, regular use of forbidden hunting methods and noncompliance with allowed quotas); • Species introductions (Alectoris, Pedrix and Phasianus) with alien origin (in contradiction with IUCN rules for reintroductions) • Hunting in fenced areas Radical improvement of collaboration in order to save habitats and sites destruction (joint programs to save our rivers, steppes, meadows and forests)
Thank you for your attention! Stefan Avramov Biodiversity and Protected Areas Coordinator Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation e-mail: sga@escom.bg www.bbf.biodiversity.bg
