„For the best heritage protection we need czars, kings and Hermann Görings“

The history of the Bialowieza forest is unique. Recently bisons live here after they became extinct in 1919. The full story is in the wonderful book „Ochrona zubra...“

The devastating 1st world war did not stop before this forest and for example also moose (Alces alces) was nearly extinct in that time. However, this old forest is natural heritage. There are many other former hunting areas in Germany which are not as rich in biodiversity and are less undisturbed, selforganised and consist of less old trees.

As we know this would not have happened if the upper class would not have their harvest of big game. Moose and bison were protected by restrictions of the hunt to a handful of people. The bison protection started already in the 15th century. However, caring about the game species and their quiet host environment, is established in the German game law as well named „Hege“. The idea is the same as it was in Bialowieza forest. Who did this to write such a good idea down there? Look, the current game law is more or less the same as the Reichsjagdgesetz before from 1932, which was passed by.... Hermann Göring. Aahaaa!


So why we dont have puszczy everywhere the hunters hunt? I think the Bialowieza methods were great: keeping it wild, no wood harvest and providing winter food out of the area by making hay. „Caring“ in Germany (and in other parts of Poland?) is something else. First of all the food situation for the game species is fantastic since the use of mineral fertilizer. There is no hunger anymore. Second, there are no significant predators in Germany since hunters genozide on wolf, lynx and brown bear, which was carried on in 2006 when baer bruno was killed without permission. Also one migrating wolf and one migrating moose were shot in Saxony-Anhalt although it was forbidden by game and wildlife conservation law.

It is interesting that the Bavarian hunters' association said on their website that ALL moose which migrated to Germany had to be killed after collisions with cars. In contrast to that the „Elchplan“ (moose management plan) which was created not only by hunters, but together with scientists and other public authorities confirmed that three moose had to be killed after traffic accident injuries. Furthermore „killed“ animals without further explanation are mentioned. Moose live in Poland and Czech Republic. When they cross the border to Germany they all disappear.

Some people with weapons, not all hunters in general, kill illegally. Do I even have to say that we live in a constitutional state!? We have to bring them to justice. On the other hand hunters pet alien species like fallow deer (Dama dama), sika deer (Cervus nippon), chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis inermis) or common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). This has nothing to do with protection for our game species nor with their environmental protection. They stress native animals due to competition and parasites towards natural mortality is left for common game species. The only time which brings mortality is in winter when there is nothing on the fields and the snow / ice layer is too high for animals to reach ground vegetation. Then the hunters dump truckloads of non-native material with the hasardous effects of eutrophication (Eutrophierung). Immission of nutrients is one of the top biodiversity killers in Germany.

Overall outside Bialowieza forest keeping the game is gone wrong. Nature protection protects nature today! For example with protected areas, policies in in agriculture and forestry, wildlife conservation activities of specific NGOs, rules for industrial emissions and waste,  consideration of nature protection in all structural works, prohibitions to disturb or kill animals and plants as well as habitats.

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Die Begegnung "Treffpunkt Białowieża - ein Ort für Mensch und Natur" wird ermöglicht durch die finanzielle Unterstützung des Deutsch-Polnischen Jugendwerks im Rahmen des Wettbewerbs "Treffpunkt übermorgen - Spotkajmy się pojutrze" sowie der Stiftung für deutsch-polnische Zusammenarbeit.