CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this online case, in Dagsrevyen and in Nordnytt on 7 June, it was stated that the government is now giving the go-ahead for a pilot project to kill sea eagles and golden eagles to combat the loss of, among other things, domestic reindeer. Here we have followed up on the claim. The background for Sandra Borch’s statements is that the new reindeer husbandry agreement, which her ministry has negotiated, contains a section on the eagle project in Troms. It is pointed out that in 2016 the Storting asked the government to initiate a pilot scheme with the management of golden eagles in Troms and on the Fosen Peninsula within the framework of the predatory game settlement. Now sea eagles were also brought in addition to golden eagles. The text of the reindeer husbandry agreement, the wording «management» and statements at a recent meeting, perceived the Predatory Game Committee in Troms and Finnmark as a signal that the government opened up for the shooting of golden eagles in a reindeer grazing district in Troms. The decision met with opposition in several circles. Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Kongeørn Photo: Kjartan Trana / news Kongeørn is a bird species in the hawk family. It is our second largest bird of prey after sea eagles. Golden eagles also form a separate genus Aquila. The female bird is the largest and has a wingspan of up to 2.24 m (Norwegian measure). The weight reaches a maximum in winter, with the largest known Norwegian weight 6670 g. The young bird is dark brown with white areas under the wings, and a white tail with a dark end band. It gets a full-grown suit after 4-5 years and then becomes a fairly solid golden brown with a yellow-brown forehead and neck and no white areas. Sexual maturity approx. 4 years old. The population in Norway declined over many years, but has stabilized since the total protection in 1968. In 2002, the Norwegian population was estimated at 850–1200 breeding pairs. The spring population including non-nesting birds is estimated to be at least 2000 individuals. The total population in Europe is estimated at at least 8400 pairs. Source: Store Norske Leksikon. – Extraction of eagles Here is the quote from the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch about the text of the reindeer husbandry agreement which has been partially published in the past: and there will also be an opening to take out eagles which does great damage to reindeer. – When will the project start? The Storting made a decision on the prevention of eagle damage to reindeer already in 2016? – This applies not only to golden eagles, but also sea eagles are included in the reindeer husbandry agreement. The previous government failed to deliver on this. The current government is now following up the project together with reindeer husbandry, which is now experiencing large losses related to eagles, especially in Troms. – Should you also take out eagles along the way that do great damage or should you just do research? – This means that it is possible to take out eagles that do great damage, and it was also a prerequisite that reindeer husbandry would be involved in this. The head of the Predatory Game Committee in Troms and Finnmark, John Karlsen, says it is in Inner Troms, Ytre Lyngen and large parts of Finnmark where the problem is greatest. Photo: Rune N. Andreassen / news Created expectations and optimism The statements from the Minister of Agriculture and Food and that she acknowledged that reindeer husbandry suffers large losses to eagles in Troms were well received by the industry and leader of the Predatory Game Committee in Troms and Finnmark, John Karlsen. He has repeatedly emphasized that golden eagles do the most damage to reindeer compared to wolverines, lynxes and children, and that this has been going on for several years. Karlsen says that at a dialogue meeting between the two ministries and the country’s predatory game committees in Oslo at the end of May, it was stated from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food that they should now take up the eagle project in Troms. Karlsen interpreted the signals from the meeting in Oslo as meaning that the eagle project would now start. The statement from Sandra Borch to news has strengthened the perception that it was now possible to start taking out golden eagles at the same time as the pilot project progressed. In a press release from the government and in an interview with State Secretary Aleksander Øren Heen (Sp), he denies that it is open to shoot eagles in Troms. – In 2016, the Storting had a remark on domestic reindeer husbandry where one should look at the cause of the loss and map it better. The Storting also said that preventive measures and felling should be included in that work, but the government has not decided on any preventive felling now. There is no legal legal basis for this until you have reached the population target (for eagles), and you must then prove that it has an effect, says Øren Heen to news. Photo: Kjartan Trana / news – Not easy He emphasizes that the ministry can not initiate extensive killing of golden eagles without having knowledge of the loss situation related to domestic reindeer husbandry. – But in the reindeer husbandry agreement, the wording «management» has been used. Does not the killing of golden eagles mean harm? – It is correctly understood that management means either reducing or facilitating changes in the stock. So it is correct, but there are a number of challenges associated with it in that one is not above the population target for golden eagles, and that damage must be directed at the individual who has most likely caused the damage. The leader of the Predatory Game Committee in Troms and Finnmark, John Karlsen, is disappointed and confused that the Ministry of the Environment and Climate does not allow the killing of eagles while the pilot project is in progress. – Neither the previous government nor the current one has followed up the decision in the Storting, and it is very serious, says John Karlsen. – The feedback from reindeer husbandry is that they do not want to be part of a pilot project that will only conduct research. They believe they have enough documentation through large losses for each and every year. The Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency can also confirm that golden eagles are the biggest pest of reindeer, says Karlsen. Leader of the Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Sami National Association, Inge Even Danielsen led the negotiations on a new reindeer husbandry agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on behalf of reindeer husbandry. When asked about the management and shooting of eagles, he says: – It is not difficult to support the Predatory Game Committee in it, if it is a prerequisite to get started with the project. Leader of the Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Sami National Association, Inge Even Danielsen. Photo: Helle Therese Kongsrud / news – We are not believed After the confusion surrounding the shooting of eagles and the dementia from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate, says leader of Troms Reindriftssamer Fylkeslag, Per Mathis Oskal that they do not want to cooperate with the administration of the eagle project in Troms. Oskal believes that the reindeer husbandry industry has sufficient knowledge about the loss of reindeer during the calving period in the spring and throughout the summer. He refers to both the Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency and NINA (Norwegian Institute for Natural History) which have figures on this. – We feel that the ministry is training the case and will not go into the realities. If we are still only going to focus on basic research for five years, we will not be able to participate, because the figures are there today. In some years, we are down to a calf percentage of 30–35 per cent before slaughter, while during calving we are up to 95 per cent, which means that a large proportion of the calves are taken by predators during the spring and summer. This has also been confirmed by NINA, says Oskal and continues. – The authorities do not trust us reindeer owners. That’s their problem. I am afraid that we will now have a crash of trust between the industry and the administration. It is a pity and very unfortunate for the further management, says reindeer owner Per Mathis Oskal. Leader of Troms Reindeer Husbandry Sami County Association, Per Mathis Oskal. Photo: Linda Pedersen / news Following the statement by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch to news about the removal of eagles, WWF – the World Wide Fund for Nature – took a hard line against the government. The reaction turned out to be done on the wrong premise. In a new statement today Thursday, WWF Secretary General Karoline Andaur emphasizes her opposition to shooting eagles in Norway. – Golden eagles and sea eagles are majestic birds that give many people a great nature experience and contribute to game tourism in several places. Golden eagles are not a major threat to sheep and reindeer, while sea eagles are not a threat at all. We are in the middle of an acute natural crisis. We must learn to coexist with nature, not kill species that do not suit our economic interests. – Norwegian nature management must be based on knowledge, otherwise we erode both legislation and trust. Unfortunately, politicians today have far too little focus on this. Through conflict prevention and management on nature’s premises, we become better able to solve the challenges that both nature and our use of nature face, says Andaur. news has several times tried to get hold of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sandra Borch, both through inquiries to the ministry by phone and e-mail, and by phone and by SMS to herself. She has not responded to our inquiries.
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