Management Plan for the Bear Population in Finland
Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö
31.10.2022
Julkaisusarja:
Publications of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 2022:20Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-366-751-8Tiivistelmä
The main objectives of the Management Plan for the Bear Population in Finland are to preserve the favourable conservation status of the bear population and to make sure that bears will not lose their fear of humans. The Management Plan for the Bear Population aims to reconcile the needs of the people living and working in or close to bear habitats and the needs related to the protection of the bear population.
Preserving the favourable conservation status of the bear population is concerned with safeguarding the viability of the bear population while taking into account the different needs and views of the people living in or close to bear habitats, and social sustainability. The Management Plan for the Bear Population describes the key measures that aim to preserve a viable bear population as part of the Finnish natural environment and ecosystems, enable sustainable hunting of bears for population management purposes, and address the economic and social challenges caused by bears, such as damages to reindeer and domestic animals. The plan also responds to international obligations concerning Finland.
The preparation of the process to update the Management Plan for the Bear Population started in 2016 in collaboration between the Finnish Wildlife Agency and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The preparations included an online survey of people’s opinions on the bear and management of the bear population, a survey targeted to those issued with derogations for population management purposes, consultations with the regional wildlife councils, a survey targeted to the participants of the regional stakeholder events, an online discussion forum and workshops.
Besides the Management Plan for the Bear Population, a background document for the plan was drawn up in cooperation between the Finnish Wildlife Agency and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The draft Management Plan for the Bear Population was circulated for comment in 2017 and the plan and its background document were finalised by public officials working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This final phase also included consultations with stakeholders.
Preserving the favourable conservation status of the bear population is concerned with safeguarding the viability of the bear population while taking into account the different needs and views of the people living in or close to bear habitats, and social sustainability. The Management Plan for the Bear Population describes the key measures that aim to preserve a viable bear population as part of the Finnish natural environment and ecosystems, enable sustainable hunting of bears for population management purposes, and address the economic and social challenges caused by bears, such as damages to reindeer and domestic animals. The plan also responds to international obligations concerning Finland.
The preparation of the process to update the Management Plan for the Bear Population started in 2016 in collaboration between the Finnish Wildlife Agency and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The preparations included an online survey of people’s opinions on the bear and management of the bear population, a survey targeted to those issued with derogations for population management purposes, consultations with the regional wildlife councils, a survey targeted to the participants of the regional stakeholder events, an online discussion forum and workshops.
Besides the Management Plan for the Bear Population, a background document for the plan was drawn up in cooperation between the Finnish Wildlife Agency and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The draft Management Plan for the Bear Population was circulated for comment in 2017 and the plan and its background document were finalised by public officials working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This final phase also included consultations with stakeholders.