You Need to Know What You’re Talking About

We live in a democracy where everyone has the right to be heard. That is a fundamental strength of our society. Yet, when it comes to questions of nature—and particularly hunting—it also presents a challenge. When complex management decisions are driven by opinion rather than knowledge, we risk harming the very things we aim to protect.

As Winston Churchill famously observed, democracy may not be perfect, but it is the best system we have. That, however, comes with responsibility. The right to hold an opinion is not the same as having insight into the subject at hand.

Nature and hunting policy are among the areas where the consequences of poorly informed decisions become tangible and measurable. There is no room here for relying on emotion alone. The management of wildlife and habitats is built on biological knowledge, data, and decades of accumulated experience.

A fundamental principle must therefore be upheld: it is facts—not feelings or assumptions—that must guide how we manage nature. Sustainable hunting, as practiced in many parts of the world, rests on long-standing traditions combined with documented knowledge of populations, ecosystems, and carrying capacity. Creating a balance between protection and use requires insight—and maintaining that balance over time requires responsibility.

When decisions are grounded in expertise and evidence, we see results: resilient wildlife populations, protected habitats, and a natural environment capable of thriving. When they are not, we see the opposite.

It is therefore essential to recognize that nature management is not about what we feel—but about what we know. Wildlife demands responsibility, and responsibility demands knowledge. Biodiversity does not arise by chance; it is the outcome of deliberate, knowledge-based management—including, in many cases, regulated hunting.

Democracy gives us the right to hold an opinion.
Nature demands that those opinions rest on an informed foundation.

Just because the majority is the majority does not mean it is right.