Study suppported by the Ministry of Agriculture
Decision No. 10.9.1-11/24/1843-e (20.05.2024) on support of the Study by the Rural Development Service
Study tasks
1st phase (2024): To develop and validate the methodology for assessment of the population size of wild boar in the game management units specified by the State Forest Service.
Prepare a theoretical basis for determining the number and population density of wild boar:
1.1. Evaluation of the reliability of previous wild boar counting methods, practices and data in Latvia;
1.2. Selection and coordination of the pilot study area with land owners and users of hunting rights;
1.3. Establishment of cooperation with the European Observatory of Wildlife, which supports and coordinates the monitoring of the state in wildlife populations in Europe according to a common protocol for the use of trail cameras;
1.4. Review of the census methods for wild boar described in the scientific literature and implemented by other countries and initial tests in field;
1.5. Analysis of historical data (distribution, number assessment, hunting bags, landscape forest cover) regarding the period when the population of wild boars in Latvia did not reach 10,000 individuals (before 1970);
1.6. Analysis of data on the co-occurrence of wild boar at feeding sites for the purpose of determining the population structure.
2nd phase (2025): To develop a control system to verify at random (or as necessary) the compliance of the actual numbers and population density of wild boar with the targets set by the strategy for monitoring and eradication of ASF.
2.1. To determine the interdependence of wild boar population structure and density:
2.1.1. comparing the sex-age structure of hunted wild boars in territories and time periods with different population densities;
2.1.2. developing criteria for the use of population demographic indicators, which would allow predicting the dynamics of wild boar numbers.
2.2. To determine criteria for classifying a territory as an area where the population density does not exceed 1.5 wild boars per 1,000 ha (in the territorial accounting units of the VMD, parts of the country and the entire country):
2.2.1. agreeing with the hunting specialists of State Forest Service on the number of criteria and parametric values;
2.2.2. preparing a draft of the monitoring and control system for presentation.
2.3. To implement control of the compliance of the census in the field in the pilot areas after reducing the number of wild boars to the permissible population density:
2.3.1. by repeating the control census in the forest massif in the Lubāna district;
2.3.2. by conducting a control census in the territory where the presence of wild boars has been observed in the baiting areas for a long time (Talsi region);
2.3.3. by checking the reports of users of hunting rights in the field on the results of the reduction of the number of wild boars.
2.4. To conduct a comparative analysis of wild boar population density and ASF epidemiological data.
2.5. Preparation of a project for a surveillance and control system and inclusion in the scientific report of the study.
2.6. Prepare a manuscript for publication in a SCOPUS-level scientific publication.