News item | 14-04-2022 | 15:37
Minister Van der Wal for Nature and Nitrogen will not start hunting the rabbit in the coming hunting season (2022/2023). This applies to all provinces. In addition, the minister will not open the hunt for the hare in the provinces of Groningen, Limburg and Utrecht next season. The reason is the declining population trend.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) had commissioned Wageningen Environmental Research (WEnR) and Sovon to conduct research into the conservation status of the five species on the list of freely huntable species (the so-called wild list). These five species are rabbit, hare, wood pigeon, pheasant and mallard. Research by WEnR and Sovon shows that all five species on the wildlife list are not in a favorable conservation status nationally.
Area-oriented approach
Minister Van der Wal therefore wants to see what is needed for the recovery of these species, together with provinces and interest groups. In addition, the minister wants an area-oriented approach, in which hunting for a certain species can only take place in areas where this species is doing well.
Trends at national and provincial level are available for the rabbit and the hare. For the wild duck, wood pigeon and pheasant, the minister first wants to gain more insight at the provincial level. Based on this insight, the minister will make a decision about whether or not to open the hunt for these species in the 2023/2024 hunting season. Next season (2022/2023) the hunt for mallard ducks, wood pigeon and pheasant will remain open.
If the conservation status of the rabbit and hare is improved in the future, the hunting of these species can take place again everywhere.
Causes of species decline
Hunting is not the main cause of the decline of species on the wildlife list. The main causes are habitat loss, decreased habitat quality and the effect of predators. This is partly due to intensification and scaling up of agriculture, changes in the landscape, and agricultural machinery. Land management and advice on mowing help, among other things, to prevent further decline of these species.
Nationally closing the hunt for species from the wildlife list can have a major impact on fauna management, damage control and nature management. That is why the minister wants an area-oriented approach, whereby the hunt for a certain species is only opened in those areas where this species is doing well, in combination with measures to restore the population.
Next steps
In the coming period, the ministry will consult with provinces and interest groups about next steps, such as determining the population status of the species on the wildlife list at provincial level and periodically determining the conservation status. There is also a need for additional research into the root causes of the decline and unfavorable conservation status and a recovery plan to restore and maintain the species in good conservation status.
In addition, LNV also wants the counts of game species to be used by game management units in the future. The ministry will work with all parties involved to improve the counting method and the collection of data, so that this data can be used. LNV also wants to map out the social and financial impact of not opening the hunt together with the provinces and stakeholders.