Fachgespräch Ökologisch vertretbare Schalenwilddichte 7./8. September 1995 Umweltbundesamt Berlin : Ökologisch vertretbare Schalenwilddichte

Berlin

1996

112 S.

51 Lit. Ang.

Bandaufführung

62439

Air pollution is seen to play an important role as a caise for widespread damage in German forests. In addition, game density in many regions is known to be a serious hazard for ecologically sustainable forestry. For this reason the Federal Environmental Agency in Berlin organized a workshop on "ecologically tolerable game densities". It took place in September 1995 and aimed at identifying the state of knowledge and possible calls for action by the Federal Government. Scientists, experts from administration, and representatives of private forest owners dealt with this issue in the form of short reports and round-table discussions grouped into the sections "Analysis of damage" and "Consequences for silvicultural aims and the role of forest ownership". The present publication contains the experts' conclusions and recommendations along with their original contributions to scientifically support the results of the workshop. The experts agreed that precise counts of game populations are impossible. Repeated estimates, though, should allow the identification of trends in the development of these populations. The experts criticized the lack of expertise in the field of game biology at the lower administrational level. A consequent reduction of ungulate game populations (including in particular red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is seen as one prerequisite for natural regeneration in the framework of forestry close to nature. It is not possible to determine a uniformly applicable figure for a "critical game density". In contrast, the carrying capacity of forest ecosystems for ungulate game species has to be individually derived from regionally typical indicators for vegetation and ecosystem conditions. Mechanical, chemical or biological methods for the control of game damage others than hunting are not available or presently not accepted. The only means for a regulation of game populations doday is the hunting rifle. From an ecological point of view and in the interest of nature conservation hunting is necessary and deserves support.