The 21st General Assembly of the Luxembourgish Hunting Federation (FSHCL) took place on Sunday in Käerjeng, where the new Minister for the Environment, CSV politician Serge Wilmes, was greeted with initial scepticism.
According to the first impressions from the hunters gathered at the General Assembly, Minister Serge Wilmes would, in terms of hunting, prefer to stay on a fairly green path, which for the federation signals that they can expect a lack of progress on key issues. Therefore, a swath of criticisms and demands were addressed to the new government and the relevant nature administration in the federation president's speech.
The new Minister takes the wind out of critics' sails
The federation feels dismayed by the fact that their demands are met with irrelevance, despite their efforts to act in the name of nature and its protection. Year after year, the federation argued that the same points are discussed repeatedly without the situation changing at all.
The first public confrontation between the new Minister and the president of the hunting federation was subtle but certainly set critics back: Serge Wilmes, on behalf of the government, committed to hunting and promised collaboration respecting the knowledge and experience of the members of the federation. Both sides even agreed that these shouldn't just be words, decisions must also be put into action.
A hunting summit in Autumn?
At the earliest just before the summer vacation, but no later than the beginning of autumn, the government wants to organise a meeting with the federation and all the stakeholders concerned with hunting. There are no taboos regarding the topics, and there are also no restrictions for the hunters as partners in nature and forest protection.
For his first public dialogue with the hunting federation, the new Minister of the Environment presents himself as a person of compromise, just like the representatives of the federation, who, however, do not want to discuss the issue of using the method of trapping for hunting boars. Jo Studer, President of the Hunting Federation, demanded a clear statement from the government, which he certainly received.
No trapping of boars on Luxembourgish territory
The minister announced that the government will not allow trapping to be used as a method to hunt boars. The Minister could not have been clearer in his words. However, upon being asked by the president of the federation whether there are some others in the administration who might stand behind this method, the minister did not go into it.
The collaboration should be factual, constructive, and cooperative in the future, according to Minister Wilmes. Both actors promised mutual cooperation as they want to start implementing decisions from now on, not just talk.
New relationship between hunting and politics
With his statements at the hunting federation's general assembly, the new Environment Minister started a new era in the relations between hunters and the government. He emphasised that the government is in favour of hunting and that the work they do in the field of nature conservation is appreciated greatly.
Minister Wilmes mentioned that for any questions that are left unanswered, he wants to find the answers together with the hunters and the nature administration in a hunting summit in autumn.
Jo Studer made several proposals that favour nature conservation, such as the consistent planting of hedges, but criticised that they do not receive enough financial support from the government. Studer argued that we are continually encroaching on the forest's habitat, and that people do not appreciate nature as much anymore. In order to curb this trend, persuasive efforts should already start with children.
President of the FSHCL criticises the traps set up alongside the river Attert
Nature Administration creates internal department called "wildlife and hunting"
In the future, the Nature Administration will once again take care of any hunting concerns through a separate department called "wildlife and hunting," explained the new director, Michel Leytem. Regarding traps set up along the Attert or the Our, it is not about trap hunting but about catching. This would primarily target invasive species, such as muskrats, which also cause ecological damage, clarified Leytem. He concludes by saying that when it comes to hunting, the administration is rather in favour, and not against the practice.
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