Alpine peaks at Spitzingsee: One issue is particularly worrying for alpine farmers

Created: 06/25/2022, 06:24

By: Daniel Wegscheider

BR Editor-in-Chief Christian Nitsche (center) interviewed Austria's Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) and Bavaria's Minister of Agriculture Michaela Kaniber (CSU).

© Wegscheider

Schliersee/district - At the international Alpine Summit 2022 at Spitzingsee, alpine farmers, politicians and experts will discuss problems.

There is a big topic.

High up at 1,318 meters above sea level, around 200 representatives from politics, agriculture and nature conservation from near and far came together for the "Alpen.Gipfel.Europa" meeting on Thursday (June 23).

In the marquee next to the Untere Firstalm on the Spitzingsee, they looked together at the uncertain future of mountain agriculture in glorious weather.

The focal point was the wolf, which dominated the debate at the three-hour event.

The growing hiking and mountain biking tourism, climate change, tightening of laws such as stables or the return of predators such as bears and wolves are increasingly presenting alpine farmers with challenges.

In order to talk about it and to look for solutions together, the Alliance for Mountain Farming invited to the 2022 Alpine Summit.

To this end, representatives of farmers' associations, nature conservationists and scientists from Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland traveled to the district of Miesbach.

Preservation of the unique habitat of the Alps

Bavaria's Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) was also there and emphasized: "We all have to pull together and develop perspectives together.

Mountain agriculture is indispensable for the preservation of the unique natural and habitat in the Alps.” And further: “Many people are looking for relaxation and tranquility in the mountains.

However, this wish must be reconciled with the needs of the mountain farmers.” They are the ones who “have put their heart and soul into looking after our beautiful homeland”.

The Alpine Summit 2022 of the Alliance for Mountain Agriculture took place on the Untere Firstalm on the Spitzingsee at an altitude of 1,318 meters.

© FOAG

"We depend on the management of the alpine pastures," added Walter Heidl.

According to the President of the Bavarian Farmers' Association, around 50 million tourists travel to the Alpine region every year.

“We have a high level of biodiversity on the alpine pastures because the areas are kept open.

Visitors wouldn't come if we didn't have this attractive cultural landscape.” The alpine farmers, who tend paths and meadows, make sure of that.

"Protection through utility," explained Heidl.

Municipalities and trades benefit from this because the alpine farmers create the conditions for tourism to take place here.

Economic situation of the alpine farmers

At the summit of the Alps on Spitzingsee, the question was how the alpine farmers are doing economically these days.

Josef Steinmüller, who runs a 600-year-old farm in Oberaudorf in the Rosenheim district, said: “Despite subsidies, most farms have a very difficult time.

A manager works a similar amount and has the same responsibility as us mountain farmers, but earns much more.” When it comes to wolves, most alpine farmers miss the support of the federal government and the EU.

"Brussels is getting further and further away from reality," said Joachim Rukwied, President of the German Farmers' Union.

Bavaria's Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber met Farmers' President Walter Heidl (left) and Christian Schmidt-Hamkens, spokesman for Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag, at the 2022 Alpine Summit.

© Wegscheider

Steinmüller explained: "If we have wolves with pack formation here and want to protect our pastures with fences, herding dogs and staff, that would eat up our entire operating profit." Josef Glatz agreed and criticized the wolf management.

The chairman of the Almwirtschafts Verein Oberbayern emphasized: “Livestock guard dogs must be fed.

We don't slaughter enough sheep to feed them."

also read

Drugs and gummy bears containing THC are doomed to men on A8

No place for wolves: Mayors in the Miesbach district are demanding a solution

Criticism of wolf management

There was also uniform criticism regarding the protective fences, which are intended to protect the herds from predators.

Brigitta Regauer, alpine farmer from Fischbachau, said: "It's harder for a human to survive than a wolf.

In addition, the fences massively cut through the landscape.

So we have peace on the mountain, but not from the wolf, but from the people.”

Around 200 listeners and representatives from alpine, forestry and agriculture, politics and tourism gathered in the marquee for the panel discussion.

© Wegscheider

Martin Geilhufe from the Bund Naturschutz, on the other hand, tried to counteract the skepticism of the alpine farmers: "Herd protection can work.

This is not an unsolvable problem and has been proven by scientists.” Targeted wolf kills would also be part of the management plan: “But authorities and courts decide on the basis of political decisions and the FFH guidelines.” are based in the Alps.

So far there have only been migrants.

Supraregional approach to the topic of wolves

When it came to the emotionally debated topic of wolves, the Minister of Agriculture advocated a supra-regional approach: “We need cross-national monitoring, but also the designation of non-protectable areas.

The goal is active stock management, as other European countries are already doing.”

Graduate biologist and alpine pasture expert Alfred Ringler suggested: "It takes someone who keeps asking the authorities tiresomely." A joint solution would require them to work together, which they would not do at the moment.