Freiburg / Strasbourg (dpa / lsw) – According to scientists, the capercaillie is as good as extinct in the Vosges. Only five to six animals of this endangered species were counted last year in the mountainous region of eastern France, not far from the border with Germany. This emerges from a report by a scientific advisory body of the Grand Est region, which also includes Alsace.
At the same time, the 50 or so experts on the panel are opposed to a plan to bring birds of this species from other countries and settle them in the region. The essential conditions to build up a viable population of these forest dwellers were missing. However, as the daily newspaper “Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace” recently reported, the expert vote is not the last word. Those involved in the region set up a working group to discuss how to proceed.
In the neighboring Black Forest, the population of the species, which is strictly protected by nature conservation law, is also shrinking. But the situation is less dramatic in terms of numbers than in eastern France. Experts counted 97 displaying capercaillie last year. With the female animals, the population in the low mountain range is estimated at around 200, as reported by the Baden-Württemberg Forestry Research Institute (FVA) on request in Freiburg.
The population has been developing “strongly negatively” for around 30 years, according to the Wildlife Institute of the FVA. At the start of annual monitoring in 1971, there were still 570 courting capercaillie. The habitat of the shy birds has changed due to climate change. They are also disturbed by forestry, tourism and recreational athletes.
Should wood grouse from Sweden also be released into the wild in the Black Forest, as is the case in Thuringia, for example? There is generally only a low survival rate for such projects, said the managing director of the association for the capercaillie in the Black Forest, Jakob Huber, to consider. “It’s easier to maintain an existing population,” he said.
The country wants to accelerate the expansion of wind power. Two ministries involved therefore agreed in August that the capercaillie no longer has to be taken into account in several regions of the Black Forest when it comes to planning and building wind turbines. In return, areas are to be given special protection in order to establish and maintain a viable capercaillie population in the Black Forest.
In order to protect the forest bird, the capercaillie action plan should also be updated, assured Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Peter Hauk at the time. For the implementation, the country will have to invest more in the future than in previous years, said the CDU politician. The new plan should come in the course of the year, the Ministry of Agriculture reported on request.
The hunters also join the debate. “The action plan that has been announced for a long time must finally be put into effect,” demanded the Baden-Württemberg State Hunting Association. Among other things, it is about improving the habitat of the endangered species. Those involved would have to work together to ensure that the rescue was successful: “Otherwise, the spectacular courtship display of the capercaillie can no longer be experienced by subsequent generations,” the association warned.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230320-99-17367/2
