Party Forest associations see forest regeneration in danger due to too much game

Too many roe deer, red deer and chamois are damaging the Swiss forest. Experts are therefore sounding the alarm. They are relying on hunters and large carnivores. But they also see humans as having a duty.

According to the Swiss Forest Association, the Swiss Mountain Forest Care Group, the Swiss Forestry Association and the Association of Bernese Forest Owners, excessive populations and damage caused by ungulates have made regeneration difficult for decades. Action is now urgent.

According to the associations, the damage caused by deer, stags and chamois is caused by browsing, sweeping and peeling young trees. Among other things, because the forest needs to become fit for climate change, rejuvenation is necessary and thus a change to other tree species and more diversity. Damage caused by hoofed game must therefore remain acceptable.

In many places, this is impossible without a significant reduction in populations. The associations are therefore calling for support for hunting. Where necessary, hunting should be intensified. The importance of hunting for the cultural landscape should also be communicated to the public.

The associations believe that the cantons have a duty to plan hunting and that the federal government also has a duty to implement the regulations. According to the associations, large predators such as lynx and wolves cannot solve the regeneration problem. But they do have an influence on the spatial distribution, behavior and size of ungulate populations.

However, humans must also make a contribution. Less disturbance, for example from recreational sportspeople in the forest or management, could help to reduce grazing pressure in critical locations. They therefore advocate wildlife rest areas and game reserves.

SDA