An important spokesperson for hunting
The 69th Conference took place recently AGJSO (Working community of the hunting associations of the south-eastern Alpine area) in Admont, Styria. The AGJSO, founded way back in 1952 and which brings together the Austrian Hunting Associations of Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, Slovenia, of the Italian Hunting Federation with the Sections of Belluno and Trieste, the Trentino Hunters Association (ACT), the The Alto Adige Hunters Association (ACAA) and the National Union of Hunters in the Alps (UNCZA) are an important spokesperson for hunting in the south-eastern Alpine region and meet annually in an Assembly to discuss wildlife management and cross-border hunting.
Perfect organization
The 69th Assembly organized by the Styrian Hunting Association covered the theme “Think big – act local. Habitat conservation and population dynamics of wild animals”. The President of the Agjso Dr. Walter Brunner opened the proceedings, welcoming the numerous officials and delegates of the member associations, as well as the speakers and translators, thanking the hunting community of Styria - namely the President Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau and the doctor Karl Lackner – for the hospitality and perfect organization of the event. The two speakers, Dr. Rudolf Reiner and Dr. Hubert Zeiler, highlighted “The role of hunting in the conservation of habitats and species”.
Wildlife
Subsequently, Prof. Klemen Jerina addressed the issue of “The minimum size of a wild animal population for long-term survival” while subsequently Dr. Erich Tasser held a conference on the topic “Wildlife as an indicator of the quality of 'habitat". At the end of the work, wildlife biology experts and officials from the Austrian, Slovenian and Italian hunting associations, after stimulating discussions, reached the following resolution: Completeness of data is essential for sustainable and future-oriented wildlife management. The data available from the regional hunting associations is complete and valuable. They represent a pillar for maintaining balanced wild populations. For the sake of wildlife, which, as is known, knows no borders, these data sets must be periodically updated and processed on a transnational basis.
Biodiversity to be conserved
The health of wild animal populations is influenced by many factors. Habitat protection and conservation and modern wildlife management therefore require a holistic approach. Ecological, economic and social aspects must be taken into consideration. The general idea of the AGJSO is to conserve and preserve biodiversity and to ensure sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife for future generations. To achieve all these goals, it is important to find a balance between large-scale reasoning and local action. This is where hunters from the south-eastern Alpine region consider themselves essential active parties. During the Assembly, Eng. Carinthian Josef Schnabl was rewarded for his many years of meritorious service by receiving the Agjso certificate of honor from Agjso President Dr. Walter Brunner. President Brunner extended heartfelt thanks to Nadia Kollmann of the Alto Adige Hunters Association and to Franc Wakounig for the simultaneous translations which contributed significantly to the success of the conference. The next day a visit to the library of the largest monastery in the world and the adjoining Natural History Museum of Admont Abbey completed the three days. Appointment in October 2024 with the 70th Agjso Assembly which will take place in Trieste and which will be organized by UNCZA (source: Federcaccia).