JagdSchweiz

JagdSchweiz / ChasseSuisse / CacciaSvizzera / CatschaSvizra is the umbrella association of hunting in Switzerland. It is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) that brings together 35 member organisations, including regional groupings — mostly cantonal hunting organisations — as well as thematic clubs such as dog-breed clubs. Through its members and their subdivisions, roughly 30,000 hunters are organised under its umbrella. The association is based in Zofingen, in the canton of Aargau, and maintains a bilingual and multilingual presence in German, French and Italian. The organisation traces its origins to 15 April 1882, when experienced hunters founded the Schweizerischer Jäger- und Wildschutz-Verein in Geneva under the name Diana. Its founding president was Edmond Eynard of Rolle. The association's early goals combined wildlife protection with the improvement of hunting practice: the study, protection and increase of game, study of hunting legislation, suppression of poaching, perfection of hunting practice, and the development of intercantonal and international hunting relations. After a period of fragmentation in the early 20th century, when the national organisation broke apart amid debates over the introduction of revierjagd (territorial hunting), the modern umbrella association was rebuilt on the still-existing Diana foundation. Today JagdSchweiz describes its statutory purpose as the conservation and promotion of contemporary hunting in Switzerland. This includes promoting and preserving free-living wildlife and its habitats, representing the interests of Swiss hunters at home and abroad, maintaining and continuing ethical and sustainable hunting while safeguarding the interests of all hunters and respecting existing hunting systems, supporting members, ensuring national public relations, and cooperating with like-minded organisations. The association is a member of FACE, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, as well as the CIC, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation. It is also a member of IUCN and holds the right of association appeal (Verbandsbeschwerderecht). JagdSchweiz is funded through financial contributions from its members and other donations. The association publishes positions on hunting policy, maintains a parliamentary group, and runs projects such as there-for-trees, Gamsmanagement, Rotwildmanagement and Wildschweinmanagement. It also operates a shop and offers insurance products through Diana Helvetia, including individual liability, club liability, collective accident and hunting dog insurance. Its website provides extensive information on hunting practice, wildlife management, wild game hygiene, ammunition, hunting abroad, and educational resources such as Lernort Natur.

The history of JagdSchweiz begins on 15 April 1882, when experienced hunters founded the Schweizerischer Jäger- und Wildschutz-Verein in Geneva under the name Diana. The name Diana referred to the Roman goddess, daughter of Jupiter, venerated as goddess of the moon, hunting and fertility. The founders' goals were not limited to hunting as an end in itself; the statutes explicitly stated the association's wildlife protection character: "the study, protection and increase of game, studies on hunting legislation, suppression of poaching, perfection of ethical hunting practice, and development of intercantonal and international hunting relations." The idea for a national hunting association had emerged in 1881 at the Geneva "Cercle des Artistes." Under the leadership of its member Edmond Eynard of Rolle, who became the founding president of Diana, this club developed the first foundations for a nationwide hunters' association. A main goal of the initiators was to unite hunting groups from all over Switzerland and to found a broadly supported national association. The first "Central-Vorstand" (central committee) consisted of hunters from the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Lucerne and Graubünden. Membership grew rapidly: one year after founding, the association already counted 285 members. By 1890, over 1,000 hunters were members of Diana, organised in 23 sections across several cantons. At the time of its founding, wildlife populations had been massively reduced by uncontrolled hunting and poaching, and some species were no longer present at all. The founders of Diana therefore set two urgent goals. On the one hand, Switzerland was to be repopulated with more game so that hunting freedom could be exercised at all. Since the political authorities had so far done very little for the reintroduction of wildlife, Diana considered it the task of hunters from all parts of the country to point out the urgency of the project and to encourage the authorities to pursue the path of protection and increase of wildlife together with hunters. On the other hand, the goal was to insist on strict enforcement of the federal hunting law. In some cantons, the police were not very successful in their work against poaching. Diana wanted to work decisively for a further development of Swiss hunting law, for a better hunting police, and for a fight against offenders and poachers. In the early 20th century, the nationwide organisation disintegrated in the face of emerging discussions about the introduction of revierjagd (territorial hunting). Regional associations of revier hunters and patent hunters emerged instead. Diana Suisse survived only in the Romandie (French-speaking Switzerland). When, at the end of the 20th century, the need for a cross-system and nationwide organisation was recognised, the new umbrella association JagdSchweiz/ChasseSuisse/CacciaSvizzera/CatschaSvizra was built on the still-existing Diana. Today, JagdSchweiz is a registered association and the umbrella organisation of hunting in Switzerland. It has 35 member organisations, including regional groupings (mostly cantonal hunting organisations) but also thematic associations (for example clubs of dog breeds). Through the members and their subdivisions, 30,000 hunters are organised. The association is a member of FACE, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, as well as the CIC, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation. JagdSchweiz is also a member of IUCN and holds the right of association appeal (Verbandsbeschwerderecht). JagdSchweiz is funded by financial contributions from its members and other donations. The statutory purpose of the association today is the conservation and promotion of contemporary hunting in Switzerland. Specifically, the statutes list: promotion and preservation of free-living wildlife and their habitats; representation of the interests of Swiss hunters at home and abroad; conservation and continuation of ethical and sustainable hunting, while safeguarding and promoting the interests of all hunters and taking into account existing hunting systems, different hunting methods, and the cultural and landscape diversity of Switzerland; support of members; ensuring national public relations; and cooperation with like-minded organisations.

• 1890

  Over 1,000 hunters are members of Diana, organised in 23 sections across several cantons.

• 1883

  One year after founding, the association counts 285 members.

• 1882

  On 15 April, hunters found the Schweizerischer Jäger- und Wildschutz-Verein under the name Diana in Geneva; Edmond Eynard becomes founding president.

• 1881

  The idea for a national hunting association emerges at the Geneva "Cercle des Artistes."

• In the early 20th century, the nationwide organisation disintegrates amid debates over revierjagd; Diana Suisse survives only in the Romandie.

• At the end of the 20th century, the new umbrella association JagdSchweiz/ChasseSuisse/CacciaSvizzera/CatschaSvizra is built on the still-existing Diana.

• Dr. Flurin Filli becomes new president of JagdSchweiz.

National umbrella association and advocacy body for hunting in Switzerland, combining wildlife conservation with the representation of hunters' interests.

• Diana Helvetia insurance products

  Individual liability, club liability, collective accident and hunting dog insurance.

• there-for-trees project

  A conservation project of JagdSchweiz.

• Gamsmanagement

  Chamois management project.

• Rotwildmanagement

  Red deer management project.

• Wildschweinmanagement

  Wild boar management project.

• Lernort Natur

  Educational resources about nature and hunting.

• Shop

  Online shop of JagdSchweiz.

1. 1JagdSchweiz - Jägerverband Jagdpolitik Schweizjagdschweiz.ch
2. 2Geschichtejagdschweiz.ch
3. 3JagdSchweizwikidata.org
4. 4JagdSchweizde.wikipedia.org