Minister presents a new game act at Elmia Wood
In recent years some minister of the Swedish government has visited every Elmia Wood fair. However, this year marks the first time the minister in question has an in-depth knowledge of forestry.
“I’m an active forest owner and I try to attend the fair every time it’s held,” says Minister for Agriculture Eskil Erlandsson.
This year, however, the minister also had politically justifiable motives for visiting the international forestry fair. On the day before his visit on June 5 the Swedish government had legislated new dates for the hunting season. The dates were made public at the stand of the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management.
“The climate problem and the shift in seasons have meant that conditions for wild animals have changed,” Minister Erlandsson explained. “Therefore the government has decided to alter the hunting seasons.”
The changes have already come into effect on 1 June 2009 and include:
• A hunting season for greylag and Canada geese, because these birds have begun to overwinter in Sweden.
• To protect small game, red fox yearlings can be hunted year round.
• Ravens can be hunted to protect game farms, chicken farms and suchlike.
• There will be the same hunting season for tufted ducks and eider ducks in the sea archipelagos and in the interior of Sweden.
At the presentation the Minister for Agriculture was also asked the recurring question of what the government’s position is on hunting wolves. The answer was that Sweden wants to have a total wolf population of about the present level of just over 200 animals, and that some 20 wolves will be allowed to migrate into Sweden to reduce the problem of inbreeding. As a consequence, a very limited wolf hunt will be permitted.
After the presentation of the new legislation, Minister Erlandsson took the opportunity to walk around the fair.
“As a forest owner you have to come to Elmia Wood, to follow the trends and meet old friends and acquaintances,” he said before disappearing into the crowd.