A national organisation
has been established to represent polish hunters, e.g. game shooters,
wildfowl shooters and stalkers.
An earlier organisation The Central Association of Polish Hunting,
was established in 1923, which was transformed and renamed The Polish
Hunting Association (in 1936), incorporating all Hunting Associations active
in Poland at that time.
From the very beginning, PZL’s legal role was regulated by a special
presidential decree of 3rd December 1927 (The 1927 Hunting Law). After the
end of the Second World War, in 1952, a completely new legal decree was
introduced (The 1952 Hunting Law), followed by further regulations issued on
17th June, 1959, that covered the “rearing, supporting and protecting game
and conservancy”. This included both game birds and mammals. Based on these
laws, the PZL’s “Polish Hunting Model” was established to cover all
fundamental members’ activities and forms the basis of Game Conservancy in
Poland. These guiding principles, established PZL’s prime objective as the
protection of all game and wild animals, including rearing, breeding and the
working principles of Conservancy. Quite separately, sporting aspects were
also included. PZL hunting members were and are expected to contribute to
community work on a voluntary basis within their organised local hunting
syndicates (Hunting Circles). Land was then leased for this purpose from the
State. This model of engagement was submitted to International Organisations
such as the CIC (Council International de la Chasse et de la Conservation du
Gibier). Incidentally, Poland was one of the founding members of CIC back in
1930, and hosted the 1934 and 1973 CIC Congresses in Warsaw and in 1993 in
Cracow.
Since 1994, PZL has been a member of the E.U. - “FACE” (Federation
des Associations des Chasseurs de la C.E.E.). This organisation is the forum
and voice of the European Parliament with regard to any hunting issues,
protection of wild animals, and several conservancy programmes.
Throughout PZL’s history, members have provided significant participation in
the effective protection of wild animals and their natural habitat. For
example - the programme of reintroducing and protecting such species as the
european bison, elk, beaver and falcon-peregrine.
PZL is an independent legal body under Polish Law,
incorporating individual members and their “Hunting Circles”. Key activities
are to represent members and provide administrative and organisational
support nationally, based on 13th October 1995 ‘Hunting Law’ which was
reconfirmed by the National Assembly of PZL delegates in 1999. The spirit
and letter of the Law regulates the protection of all wild animals in Poland
and their natural habitat and the ecological aspects of such activity, as
well as the wider aspects of agriculture, forest enterprises and fishing
rationales. The PZL’s goal is not only the lawful protection of quarry
species and game but also the sustaining of the natural balance and number
of different species, and the controlling of the overall population of
unprotected species, in their natural habitat. In addition, PZL is concerned
with optimising the health of the species and consequently the quality of
trophies, whilst maintaining the correct scientific population balance of
individual species and their ecological balance in the environment. This
also includes the social aspects of the community, cultivation of the best
traditions, sustaining hunting culture and ethics. PZL covers a range of
activities that incorporates hunting culture and ethics, rigid marksmanship
(sporting shotgun and rifle shooting), canine research (cynology), vermin
and target shooting, national trophy records, relevant laws and regulations,
including self-regulation. In addition, an education and training programme
is provided to new members and stalkers (a separate range of examinations
for seasoned individuals). The PZL is structured to provide self management
for its members (Code of Conduct/Hunting Tribunal/Court).
The highest PZL forum, consists of a National Assembly,
providing guiding principles, setting annual objectives and goals. The PZL
ensures that the value of sport in conservation terms is recognised across
the country, and backed by action plans. The Executive governance of PZL is
authorised by the National Assembly. The acting Chair of the national PZL
Council is Andrzej Gdula, whilst Lech Bloch heads the Central
Office of PZL, located in Warsaw (ul. Nowy Swiat 35) where the monthly
members’ magazine Lowiec Polski - “The Polish Hunter” is published (established
1899). The magazine covers all aspects of shooting and stalking, as well as
natural habitat issues. “The Polish Hunter” today continues as a first
source of information for country shooting related matters.
The “hunting” territory of Poland is divided into 49 regions,
governed locally. PZL has 100,000 active members, 2503 Hunting Circles
incorporating circa 95% of all PZL members and leasing 4766 hunting areas.
Separately, PZL manages some 43 hunting areas excluded from normal
activities and reserved as a research model forestry enterprises, covering
some scientific projects (reintroducing certain species, etc.).
Throughout its long history, PZL has created significant
hunting traditions, linked to serious environmental and natural habitat
achievements. All PZL members are proud of these achievements and actively
care about their future developments.
Krzysztof J. Szpetkowski
(Poland, Cracow)
e-mail: ven24@op.pl
Translate: dr Marek A. Stella-Sawicki (Londyn, UK)
Official web PZŁ http://www.pzlow.pl

|