Linstow (dpa / mv) – In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s forests there should be less game in the future to protect new plantings. “The advancing climate change and the resulting need for massive afforestation and forest growth in the state must be favored by an adapted game population,” explained Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) at the delegates’ meeting of the state hunting association. Many hunters are critical of plans to reduce game stocks in order to reduce the rate at which young seedlings are eaten. They advocate fencing in new plantings. The state hunting association met on Saturday in Linstow (Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district).
Forest and game belonged together and couldn’t live without each other, said Backhaus. “But in order to continue having forests rich in wildlife in our country, they first have to grow.” His suggestion: First of all, it should be observed how the game works in the forest. On this basis there should then be a shooting plan.
The minister announced a transitional period of three years in MV for the conversion of hunting to lead-free ammunition. This would give all hunters enough time to adapt. In the forests of the State Forestry Agency, lead-free ammunition has been used for hunting for several years. The initial skepticism quickly dissipated. Several federal states have already switched to lead-free ammunition, including Schleswig-Holstein, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland.
The President of the State Hunting Association, Volker Böhning, demanded that his association be involved in the drafting of the planned new hunting law in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in good time. Regarding the switch to lead-free ammunition, he said that hunters would have to convert their practice shooting ranges. To do this, they needed federal and state funding. On the subject of the wolf dispute, Böhning said that Germany must finally declare the good conservation status of the species to the EU so that wolves can also be shot.
Around 180 delegates wanted to elect a new president in Linstow that afternoon. Böhning, who is also President of the German Hunting Association, is not standing again after 20 years in office. Vice President Marco Gemballa declared his candidacy for the successor before the meeting. According to the association, there are around 10,000 hunters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
