As an international advocacy organisation, FACE actively represents the interests, values and needs of Europe’s national hunting associations, composed of 7 million hunters.
FACE Manifesto for the 2024 European elections
On 7 November 2023, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE), which represents 7 million hunters from across Europe and comprises 37 national hunting associations, officially launched its Manifesto for the 2024 European elections.
The European elections, taking place from 6-9 June 2024, will have a significant impact on the political landscape of Europe for the next 5 years, impacting the direction of several policies impacting hunting and conservation. This manifesto is a significant step to ensure that the voices of Europe’s hunters are heard and well understood.
Speaking at the launch, FACE President Torbjörn Larsson stated that:
View the ManifestoOur election manifesto sets out FACE’s core principles to ensure laws are workable and fair for Europe’s 7 million hunters. Importantly, it be further developed in the coming months to cover key files making this the beginning of a more extensive discussion
FACE recently launched its new Biodiversity Manifesto, which is Europe’s first evidence-based platform showing how Europe’s hunters conserve biodiversity.
The substantial and growing database of over 470 hunting-related conservation projects shows the importance of hunters’ efforts within and outside protected areas, on a variety of different habitat types and species.
We now have strong evidence to show how hunters are successfully implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and make a crucial contribution to habitats restoration, protected areas, species monitoring and much more.
Our work is organised into 6 main themes, which encompass over 100 dossiers that require insight, monitoring and expertise from the FACE Secretariat and Members.
The conservation issues dealt with by FACE cover the implementation of the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the EU nature directives as well as policy developments related to agriculture, restoration and protected areas.
The wildlife conservation issues covered by FACE include migratory birds, large carnivores, invasive alien species (IAS) and combatting wildlife crime.
With the trans-boundary nature of many of the world’s environmental problems, an increasing number of multilateral environmental agreements exist with implications for national policies.
Hunters are trained, motivated and committed to eliminate any avoidable suffering to animals – it is an essential part of hunting ethics and of all formal codes of conduct.
FACE and its Members seek to ensure that hunters can acquire, possess, use and travel with firearms and ammunition safely and without unjustified bureaucracy, costs or restrictions.
Throughout Europe there exists different hunting methods, traditions and cultures. These often have significant regional importance for hunting and bring richness to the diversity of hunting in Europe.
HUNTERS
FULL MEMBERS
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
PASSION
The European Parliament’s Intergroup on “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” was created in 1985 and is one of the oldest and most active parliamentary platforms.
With more than 150 actively supporting MEPs the Intergroup promotes the role of hunting and other forms of sustainable use of natural resources.
FACE has provided the secretariat for this intergroup since 1985.
In 2020, the FACE unveiled its new Patron Programme, which provides industry and other organisations with a means to support a strong future for hunting and conservation. “The FACE Patron Programme opens the door for a stronger FACE to set the best context for hunting and conservation in Europe” – FACE President Torbjörn Larsson
