Anders Grahn, Head of International Affairs Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management,

1. Wildlife management in Sweden: Hunters and landowners together for conservation Anders Grahn, Head of International Affairs Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management,

2. Medieval hunting in Sweden

3. 1789 The 21st of February 1789 ”common people” could start hunting in Sweden. The King gave the right of hunting ”free” which lead to a rapid decline in many game populations

4. Wildlife in Sweden 1830 • ~ 100 moose in Värmland • ~ 100 roe deer in Skåne • ~ 100 red deer in Skåne • No fallow deer • No wild boar • No European brown hare • No rabbits • No pheasants • Lots of wolf and brown bear

5. On 3rd of april 1830 the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management was founded The aim of the founders was to stop the extinction of our wildlife and create a tradition of ethical hunting 1830 The first chairrman Jacob Wilhelm Sprengtporten

6. The Hunting Act of 1938 • Hunting is a part of wildlife management and conservation • The Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management was given a public commission to be responsible for wildlife management • Every hunter needs to pay a annual fee to be able to hunt. The money is used for research and other activities connected to wildlife management. Today about 30 euros 1938

7. ”The public Commisson” • • Hunting and Wildlife Management • • Monitoring of Wildlife • • Moosemanagement • Safety • • Management of huntable gamespecies • • Game research • • Licenced hunting • • To train and provide skilled tracking dogs • • Training of game keepers and professional hunters

8. 1985 Compulsory examination for everyone who have the intention to start hunting and buy a hunting weapon Both theoretical and practical tests

9. A wise management of Swedish wildlife has lead to increasing populations of most game species in Sweden and - ”Never before have so many hunters had so much game and possibilities to hunt” Many species are steadily increasing in numbers like - greylag goose, canada goose, wildboar, fallow deer, beaver and the ”great four” predators…

10. Annual bag 2007/2008 • 81 000 moose • 119 000 roe deer • 18 600 fallow deer • 3 400 red deer • 32 700 wild boar • 70 000 hares • 45 000 geese • 91 500 mallard • 71 000 pigeons • 34 000 capercaillies

11. Hunting in Sweden • Done by almost 300.000 hunters organised • in ca 30.000 hunting clubs • - The number of game shot is decided by the • hunters, no ”Abschusspläne”. • Licences required for moose and red deer as • well as protected game, such as large • carnivores. • Hunters invest some 2,4 million € into game • research every year • - Game Management Areas

12. Hunting is important!

13. Swedish Wildlife Management • The hunting right belongs to the landowner and he decides who hunts on his land • The hunting right is often rented out to hunters • The landowner also has an obligation regarding conservation of game species and game species

14. Wildlife conservation 4§ in the Hunting Law ”It is included in wildlife conservation that specific measusre must be taken to provide the game with cover and support as well as adapt the hunt to the abundance of game. The land owner and the huntingright possessor are responsible for the implementation of the measures.

15. In general the co-operation between landowners and hunters is good. • Hunting is done in accordance with §4 of the hunting law • The landowner has the ultimate power regarding the hunt since he can always terminate the contract for the hunting lease

16. Co-operation between hunters and landowners (farmers, forestry etc) • - Common policies • Managementplans • Education and research etc. • Game management

17. Moose management • An example of good • co-operation • The number of moose that can be hunted annually is decided in a consultation every spring in each area • Landowners, Forest companies, Hunters, Police, Farmers and many more can come to the consultation and express their opinion • The level of the moose stock and the possible number of moose that can be shot is then formally decided by the county administriative board • Currently are we discussing a new management plan for the moose population

18. Hunters org. Forestindustries Farmers union Forestboard Small scale forestry Local co-decision Co-decision minutes Gameconservation board Advisory proposal County board Licencedecision Holders of licences Possible appeals

19. Game damages • In general game damages are not compensated for (since 1992). Introduction of ”moose management areas” • Some exceptions: large carnivores, seals and other protected animals • 4,8million € to reindeerkeepers, 3,7 million € for other damages, mainly for seal damages • Some conflicts regarding moose and wild boar • No nationwide costestimations for game damages

20. The benefits of game and hunting • The value of the hunt is estimated to • 300 million € (300 000 000) • The annual value of the ”moose – • hunt” alone is approximately 130 • 000 000 € • 15 000 000 kg of game meat is • ”produced”, 56kg/hunter • • 70% of the Swedes eats meat from • hunted animals at least once a • year • In total about 100 000 000 portions • of ecological, climate smart game • meat

21. The Swedish game is managed in co-operation between the hunters and landowners. This has shaped today´s succesful wildlife management system, the sustainable hunt and the rich abundance of game

22. Thank you for your attention!