Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data
Hunting is a unique form of activity in rural areas with a high proportion of forest areas, which involves nature conservation and meets social needs for recreation and the preservation of traditions while being an important part of economic activity. The presented study results, based on a literatu...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1178 |
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| author | Krzysztof Kupren Anna Hakuć-Błażowska |
| author_facet | Krzysztof Kupren Anna Hakuć-Błażowska |
| author_sort | Krzysztof Kupren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hunting is a unique form of activity in rural areas with a high proportion of forest areas, which involves nature conservation and meets social needs for recreation and the preservation of traditions while being an important part of economic activity. The presented study results, based on a literature review and questionnaire surveys conducted among hunters associated in hunting clubs in the north-eastern part of Poland, provide the basis for a discussion on the socio-economic significance of hunting, both in the country and throughout the European continent. Based on the results presented in the paper, it can be concluded that the number and density of hunters differ in individual countries. Moreover, hunting is practised in Europe by almost 7 million people, of which 127,000 are in Poland, and is a typical male activity. Most hunters in Poland and other European countries are professionally active inhabitants of rural areas, aged approximately 50 years, with several years of shooting experience and an income exceeding average values. Hunting is an important part of socio-economic activities, particularly in rural areas. It is estimated that in the EU alone, hunting can be worth approximately EUR 16 billion, and creates 100–120 thousand jobs. The most recent results of studies conducted in certain EU countries and the wide range of services provided by the hunting sector indicate that these values may be considerably higher. Regarding Poland, despite the centralised game resource management system, there are no extensive studies of the economic significance of hunting, and the official data are limited to a few basic indices related to hunting statistics. As indicated by the study results presented in this paper, in Poland, hunting-related expenditures are clearly lower than the European average and, thus, the economic significance of hunting is relatively low in this country. Despite this, it is a hunting community that, as a result of the adopted system solutions, is responsible for the functioning of reasonable game management while significantly affecting the management of the vast majority of rural areas. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af3d66861aa34f63ace6d0c33e5cc6c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:21:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-af3d66861aa34f63ace6d0c33e5cc6c02023-11-23T00:01:16ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2021-11-011011117810.3390/land10111178Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European DataKrzysztof Kupren0Anna Hakuć-Błażowska1Department of Tourism, Recreation and Ecology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Tourism, Recreation and Ecology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandHunting is a unique form of activity in rural areas with a high proportion of forest areas, which involves nature conservation and meets social needs for recreation and the preservation of traditions while being an important part of economic activity. The presented study results, based on a literature review and questionnaire surveys conducted among hunters associated in hunting clubs in the north-eastern part of Poland, provide the basis for a discussion on the socio-economic significance of hunting, both in the country and throughout the European continent. Based on the results presented in the paper, it can be concluded that the number and density of hunters differ in individual countries. Moreover, hunting is practised in Europe by almost 7 million people, of which 127,000 are in Poland, and is a typical male activity. Most hunters in Poland and other European countries are professionally active inhabitants of rural areas, aged approximately 50 years, with several years of shooting experience and an income exceeding average values. Hunting is an important part of socio-economic activities, particularly in rural areas. It is estimated that in the EU alone, hunting can be worth approximately EUR 16 billion, and creates 100–120 thousand jobs. The most recent results of studies conducted in certain EU countries and the wide range of services provided by the hunting sector indicate that these values may be considerably higher. Regarding Poland, despite the centralised game resource management system, there are no extensive studies of the economic significance of hunting, and the official data are limited to a few basic indices related to hunting statistics. As indicated by the study results presented in this paper, in Poland, hunting-related expenditures are clearly lower than the European average and, thus, the economic significance of hunting is relatively low in this country. Despite this, it is a hunting community that, as a result of the adopted system solutions, is responsible for the functioning of reasonable game management while significantly affecting the management of the vast majority of rural areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1178rural developmenthunting groundsrural areas |
| spellingShingle | Krzysztof Kupren Anna Hakuć-Błażowska Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data Land rural development hunting grounds rural areas |
| title | Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data |
| title_full | Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data |
| title_fullStr | Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data |
| title_short | Profile of a Modern Hunter and the Socio-Economic Significance of Hunting in Poland as Compared to European Data |
| title_sort | profile of a modern hunter and the socio economic significance of hunting in poland as compared to european data |
| topic | rural development hunting grounds rural areas |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1178 |
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