Success through integration: Solving the problem of lead intoxication by integrating stakeholders in the research process

Lead poisoning from hunting ammunition in avian top predators has been  a major source of concern over the last decade or so. After the detection of the magnitude of the problem for the White-Tailed Sea Eagle as a model... [ view full abstract ]

Lead poisoning from hunting ammunition in avian top predators has been  a major source of concern over the last decade or so. After the detection of the magnitude of the problem for the White-Tailed Sea Eagle as a model species in Germany, we initiated a workshop where we discussed our scientific findings and hypotheses with all relevant stakeholders. Representatives of hunting organisations, nature conservation agencies, NGOs and ammunition industry actively supported the discussion on questions to be solved to better understand the “lead problem” for raptors. Following this first workshop a joint research project was initiated in which social and natural scientists worked together to better understand the causes and consequences of oral lead intoxication in the eagles. Veterinarians and biologists concentrated on elucidating key issues of the biology of the White-tailed Sea Eagle, such as diet choice, feeding behaviour, home range use and size, habitat use, effects of lead intoxication on population dynamics and the performance of alternative lead-free ammunition. Social scientists analysed information use and attitudes of hunters as well as conflicts between representatives of different interest groups. During the whole project knowledge was quickly transferred to stakeholders by producing printed matters, a webpage, several meetings and workshops. At the final international conference, a joint declaration called upon the relevant ministry in charge to investigate the last remaining questions. These were to support safety related tests of lead-free ammunition and to evaluate eco-toxicological aspects of lead for consumers of shot wildlife meat. The results of these last investigations demonstrated the suitability of lead-free ammunition under hunting conditions with no severe safety related aspects and illustrated the risk of adverse health aspects for consumers eating wildlife meat with contaminated lead particles. 

In total the whole process not only achieved a substantial scientific output, it also strongly increased the awareness of the problem amongst all stakeholders. Crucially, it furthered the perception among the involved stakeholders as well as decision makers that an evidence-based approach was the only viable option forward. Nowadays, lead-based rifle bullets are forbidden in four federal states, in forest lands owned by the federal government and in smaller administrative districts such as cities or hunting grounds owned by nature conservation agencies. Project communication accomplished a widespread distribution of the knowledge, challenging the actors in the political realm to implement a lead-free based solution in the rest of Germany and in other European countries. Without the early involvement of relevant stakeholders, this success would not have been possible.