The workshop on “Combating Poaching and Illegal Hunting in Livanjsko Polje” was held in Livno, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, emphasized the need for joint efforts in the future to combat poaching in the area.
Representatives from all relevant institutions and hunting associations attended the workshop, where valuable insights were shared by Mr. Željko Vuković, a senior nature protection inspector from the Republic of Croatia with expertise in combating poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of endangered species.
Nikola Perković, Assistant Minister for Forestry, Hunting, and Water Management in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, highlighted the workshop’s significance and importance.
“I am very happy with the good turnout, especially with the presence of police representatives, as they play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Our plan is to, in collaboration with other institutions, to strengthen the control of daily hunting permits on roads, which is their primary tool in preventing poaching. The next meeting will focus on combating the use of thermal cameras, a widespread and illegal practice”.
Livanjsko Polje is an area that has been proposed for protection and is the richest bird habitat in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, areas with abundant bird populations have traditionally become popular destinations for hunting, leading to frequent poaching cases.
Goran Topić from the Ornithological Society “Naše ptice” stated that they have documented various forms of poaching recognized by the law through fieldwork. “Since the quail hunting season is upon us, we call for the authorities to increase supervision, as quails are often targeted by poachers using electronic decoys, an illegal hunting method, even in cases where the hunt was announced and paid for”.
Mr. Željko Vuković, a senior nature protection inspector from the Republic of Croatia, emphasized that protecting Livanjsko Polje will contribute to curbing poaching, benefiting not only nature but also the local population. Based on his extensive experience, he reported having seized over 100,000 killed and live protected animals during his 20 year long career. He clarified that future protection doesn’t mean banning hunting but rather limiting and regulating it in accordance with the law. The greatest concern currently is hunting quails with decoys, resulting in the massacre of these and other species. Vuković asserted his relentless approach to those involved in illegal activities that harm nature.
Vuković appreciated the cooperative attitude of hunters in Livanjsko Polje, acknowledging their awareness of poaching. He believes a true hunter is willing to acknowledge the existence of poaching and fight against it. He expects hunters in Livanjsko Polje to recognize the importance of protecting the area and actively support and promote the initiative.
Sonja Kosanović, a lawyer from the Center for Environment, presented the Draft Operational Protocol for Dealing with Poaching in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (Canton 10), prepared by the Center, which clarifies the legal framework governing this field for the general public.
Nataša Crnković, coordinator of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Program at the Center for Environment, concluded with encouraging remarks about the readiness of all institutions not to turn a blind eye to this problem. She expressed hope that actions will follow the promises made, leading to the successful suppression of illegal and harmful activities that tarnish the reputation of Livanjsko Polje.
The workshop was organized as part of the project “Sustainable Future of the Freshwater Ecosystem Livanjsko Polje in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” implemented by the Center in collaboration with the Ornithological Society “Naše ptice” and EuroNatur with the support of the DIMFE Foundation.
