CEO Message - 2010 a year of Challenges & Opportunities
The year 2010 starts in Brussels with a new EU Commission and new focus, but across the European and global landscape there is a recognition of the failure to halt the continued loss of biodiversity. (Read More)

Improving knowledge of game species in the EU
A coordinated collection of game statistics can help improve EU nature and biodiversity policy. (Read More)

December started with a strong B…..
December started with a strong Biodiversity theme, the first event was a high level conference in the European Parliament organised by our colleagues at the European Landowners Organisation (ELO) and hosted by MEP Véronique MATHIEU (EPP, FR). (Read More)

Central Europe, culture, tradition, innovation and hunting
On a trip to Central Europe on the 3rd-6th of December the FACE CEO visited both the Austrian and Slovak Hunters Unions. (Read More)

“The Guinness Record for EU summits”
At the European Policy Centre’s Policy Briefing held in Brussels, Diego López Garrido, Spanish Secretary of State for EU Affairs, said the Spanish EU Presidency would be “a very, very external presidency”. (Read More)

SCI 9th European Chapters Meeting
The magnificent Palarikovo castle in Slovakia once again provided the venue for the Safari Club International’s European Chapters end of year hunt and meeting of the Chapters from the 4th to 6th of December. (Read More)

FACE BUREAU (Read More)

CEO Message - 2010 a year of Challenges & Opportunities

The year 2010 starts in Brussels with a new EU Commission and new focus, but across the Europe and the rest of the world, there is a recognition of the failure to halt the continued loss of biodiversity. This said we must acknowledge this and the fact that despite the ongoing loss of biodiversity a significant amount of nature conservation is taking place. Over most of the European landscape this conservation involves hunters who work with other stakeholders to conserve nature. Hunters conserve nature not only in order to hunt but because of their deep rooted connection to and passion for nature.
What we need to recognise above all else is the complexity of nature; the solutions to environmental questions are never simple. The issue of lead ammunition is just such an example. In this debate, and in order to take meaningful action, FACE will meet with all stakeholders and consider all aspects related to lead in ammunition. There is a need to balance a number of  considerations in order to secure meaningful action. The first part of this will be to gather all facts and communicate them to the hunting community to have a balanced debate. All solutions should be based on risk assessments that take into account all environmental, social and economic implications.
The main theme of 2010 will, however, be the International Year of Biodiversity.  The role of hunters in nature and conservation, particularly in Europe, cannot be overstated. Hunters are involved in managing over 65% of the European land surface and they do so in collaboration with other important stakeholders, including farmers, landowners, local communities and other conservation NGOs.
So for 2010 we at FACE will be proud to be representing the hunters of Europe who in their actions, small and large, stand united as 7 million strong for hunting and the conservation of nature.

For more information, please contact FACE CEO & Director of Conservation, Angus MIDDLETON

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Improving knowledge of game species in the EU

A coordinated collection of game statistics can help improve EU nature and biodiversity policy. This is one of the key messages from a conference hosted by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), on the 15th and 16th December in association with the Swedish EU presidency (autumn 2009), which aimed at better sharing of information and strengthening links between national game monitoring programmes.   
The conference “Providing a knowledge basis for sustainable hunting and biodiversity conservation - Streamlining hunting bag statistics in the EU” held in Uppsala, Sweden, brought together around 40 representatives of organisations, researchers and government representatives. During the event, proposals for further actions were made to provide policy-makers and stakeholders the necessary information needed for managing huntable species (game) in a European context. The organisation of the event was shared between SLU, the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management and in cooperation with FACE and other relevant national and international organisations.
“There is an increased demand at European and global level for information about the game and how the hunt is conducted. In order to provide decision-makers with the necessary knowledge, an adaptation of today's game monitoring to new issues is, however, needed not least in relation to the importance of climate change”, Professor Göran Ericsson, SLU's department of wildlife, fisheries and environment and moderator for the conference.
“Hunters play an important role in wildlife monitoring, and through our monitoring work of, inter alia, moose and large carnivores we lay the foundation for wise game management. We have a long tradition of collecting bag statistics that provide useful knowledge about trends in the wildlife populations”, Torsten Mörner, President of Swedish Hunters Association.
A report of the conference conclusions, to be shortly released, will stress that any future European programmes for game monitoring must be based on ongoing national or regional data collection from hunters and others. This needs to be expanded further and will require support to coordinate methods and interpret statistics to provide information to European policy makers.
Angus Middleton, CEO, highlighted the work carried out by FACE under the Sustainable Hunting Initiative and efforts to better promote monitoring of game and other wildlife.  “Our initiatives for sustainable game management in Europe are in line with EU nature conservation policy which among other things, seek to improve knowledge of wildlife populations covered in the Birds and Habitats Directives, said Angus Middleton.
The ARTEMIS project, which promotes the collection of bag statistics, is currently run by FACE and its Member Associations. This project was the focus of many of the discussions and seen as the priority for action, both to meet the demand for such information and to ensure the ecological and social sustainability of hunting. 

Conference website: http://www-conference.slu.se/gamemonitor/

For more information, contact FACE Biodata Manager, Cy GRIFFIN

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December started with a strong B…..

December started with a strong Biodiversity theme, the first event was a high level conference in the European Parliament organised by our colleagues at the European Landowners Organisation (ELO) and hosted by MEP Véronique MATHIEU (EPP, FR). The conference focused on the private offer for Biodiversity Conservation and calls for recognition that over 80% of Europe’s land is managed or controlled by land owners. For this to happen, they need incentives to continue to conserve nature as a public good, for the amenities, services and intrinsic value that it provides. As hunters, we recognise this important role of landowners and managers and work with them for the conservation of nature.
The second event was the launch of the latest CEMEX book, “The Wealth of Nature”, the 17th in the series. This event, which was attended by the FACE CEO and SG/SPA, was also held in the EU Parliament and was hosted by MEP Struan STEVENSON (ECR, UK). Speaking at the event, IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, who wrote the foreword of the book, outlined the need to explain to society the wealth of nature in order to drive better conservation. 
Both events drew attention to next year’s focus on biodiversity and the real need to work with the economics of biodiversity. Through paying our hunting fees, investing in our game areas and working for conservation in order that we can pursue our passion, we - as hunters - know the value of nature. This is something we will give wider communication next year.

For more information, please contact FACE CEO & Director of Conservation, Angus MIDDLETON

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Central Europe, culture, tradition, innovation and hunting

On a trip to Central Europe on the 3rd-6th of December the FACE CEO visited both the Austrian and Slovak Hunters Unions. The first stop, Vienna, where the FACE CEO met with Dr. Peter LEBERSORGER, provided a fantastic atmosphere to progress the good cooperation with the Zentralstelle Österreichischer Landesjagdverbande. One of the themes which will be continued in 2010 is strengthening the good interaction among the FACE Members in the Central Region and the possibility of looking at mountain biodiversity issues within the Alpine area.
The second leg involved a visit to the Slovak Hunters Union. This began with an introduction by the Secretary General Imrich ŠUBA to their central office in Bratislava and the different themes that are covered by the Union. One of the main areas of work at present is assisting in the implementation of a new National Hunting Chamber, which should help hunting and conservation in Slovakia. The second part of the trip involved going out in the field with local hunters to experience their way of hunting. This included a goose hunt in an area of disused quarries which are zoned into Special Protected Areas (under the Birds Directive) and hunting areas. The second was a local driven hunt for wild boar which again was a good chance to get out into the field and get a feeling for the local ecology. In this case, the area included some field drainage canals which are now occupied by beavers.
In all it was a fantastic experience combining work, culture, tradition and a chance to get outdoors and experience nature.     

For more information, please contact FACE CEO & Director of Conservation, Angus MIDDLETON

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“The Guinness Record for EU summits”
At the European Policy Centre’s Policy Briefing held in Brussels, Diego López Garrido, Spanish Secretary of State for EU Affairs, said the Spanish EU Presidency would be “a very, very external presidency”. Foreseeing up to ten major summits during the country’s six months at the helm of the EU, the Spanish will keep the two new dignitaries on the European political scene, the first-ever permanent President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, and High Representative for Foreign Policy, Catherine ASHTON, very busy. Spain’s Presidency start on the 1st of January with much anticipation as it will be the first under the new Lisbon Treaty. How Spain will do may very well set a precedent for all following presidencies.
LOPEZ outlined in his presentation Spain’s four priorities, depending on no surprises. Top on the agenda will be the economy, with the focus being on the recovery from the current economic crisis and the creation of new “quality” jobs. The second priority will be the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, including a new instrument called the Citizens’ Initiative. The Initiative will allow one million citizens from a substantial number of Member States to have the possibility of calling on the Commission to bring forward new policy proposals. It is also seen as a means of getting ordinary Europeans more interested in EU affairs. Thirdly, the Spanish Presidency will focus on Citizenship by closing the gap between the people and Europe, with much attention to be paid to the issue of gender violence. Finally, efforts will be made at converting Europe into a real global player, through initiative like the development of the European External Action Service and progressing foreign relations through a record number of international summits. The Spanish Presidency will indeed be outward looking.
Little mention was made during the presentation to agriculture, the environment or biodiversity - given that 2010 will be the International Year of Biodiversity. However, some mention was made to greening the economy, reducing climate change emissions and the need to tackle desertification.

For more information, contact FACE Press Officer, Timothy LAWRENCE

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SCI 9th European Chapters Meeting
The magnificent Palarikovo castle in Slovakia once again provided the venue for the Safari Club International’s European Chapters end of year hunt and meeting of the Chapters from the 4th to 6th of December. The FACE CEO and the Secretary General of the Slovak Hunters Union were invited to attend the gala dinner, where more that 40 people attended. The gathering was hosted by Norbert ULLMANN (in fine style) and included SCI President Larry RUDOLPH and past President John MONSON amongst other passionate hunters. Taking advantage of his visit, the FACE CEO was able to coordinate with SCI actions regarding the upcoming CITES COP15 for which joint actions are already underway. The other main issue that was raised was that of lead ammunition, an issue which hunters should work together in order to find solutions. The next meetings will take place at the SCI Convention in Reno, where the FACE CEO will be hosted by SCI. 

For more information, please contact FACE CEO & Director of Conservation, Angus MIDDLETON

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FACE BUREAU
The FACE Bureau met on the 9th of December to close off the year and look ahead to 2010. On reflection, it has been a very busy year for FACE, within Brussels, amongst the Members and internationally. Aside from administrative details, the Bureau also discussed some of the items that will be dealt with in the year ahead, including the very complex debate regarding lead in ammunition.  The second major aspect is the designation of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, which gives an opportunity for hunters to present the work they do for the conservation of nature.
FACE has continued to raise its profile positively and remains the principal voice for European Hunters.

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Swedish Presidency receives PASSION
Shortly before the end of the Swedish Presidency, Eskil ERLANDSSON, the Swedish President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the EU until the end of 2009, visited the Tyrolean Mountains. In addition to his explorations of the local nature, there was an opportunity for an informal exchange of views with FACE Director Public Affairs & Communication, Christine Rupprechter-Rödlach, who presented him with a copy of the book, Passion: for Hunting and Wildlife in Europe, on behalf of European Hunters. In the photo (from left to right): Katrin Rödlach, Andrä Rupprechter, Christine Rupprechter-Rödlach, Minister Eskil Erlandsson, Criseldis Walser, Mrs. Pegger, behind, Dr. Franz Pegger, Elisabeth Larcher, in front sitting: Norbert Larcher.

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25 to 27 January 2010 - Conference on Protected Areas and and Ecological Networks in Europe (Madrid, Spain)

27 January 2010 - Sustainable Hunting Intergroup meeting (Brussels, Belgium)

NEW YEAR’S CONCERT 2010
Le Rendez-vous de Chasse

Johann Strauß meets Gioachino Rossini

Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg Conductor: Hansjörg Angerer

6 January 2010, 11 a.m.
Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg

After the highly acclaimed New Year’s Concerts in 2008 and 2009, the internationally renowned orchestra Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg under its principal conductor Hansjörg Angerer again presents a special programme – sophisticated enjoyment in a unique symbiosis.

The programme contains select works of light entertainment and hunting music by Johann Strauss father and son, Josef Strauss, Eduard Strauss and also by Gioachino Rossini, whose Rendez-vous de Chasse is considered to be one of the most important documents of classical hunting music.

In the past, closeness to nature was taken for granted and people had romantic impressions of the countryside. The New Year’s Concert 2010 can be understood as a reminiscence of that time.

* New Year's Concert 2010, press release (PDF)

* Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg programme (PDF)