This year’s European Hunters’ Conference will be focused on “Bringing back small wild game to Europe’s farmland” on 26 April 2023.

With national CAP strategic plans in place, and a new restoration law under discussion, this conference represents a key opportunity to discuss and exchange information on the need to restore small game in Europe.

The conference is linked to the FACE spring Members’ Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, which is organised in conjunction with the Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria (UHAB).

09:30 – 17:00 (EET) – Astoria Grand Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria

09:30: Welcome
– Mr. Vasil Vasilev, President of the Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria (UHAB)
– Mr. Torbjörn Larsson, President of FACE

10:00: Setting the context: The status of small game on Europe’s farmland & the need for action
– Dr. David Scallan, Secretary General of FACE

10:30: Bringing back small game: The Bulgarian challenges and solutions
– Stiliyan Geraskov, Expert, Union of Hunters and Anglers in Bulgaria

11:00: Keynote speech – Bringing back Grey Partridge to Europe’s farmland: Solutions from the PARTRIDGE project
– Dr. Francis Buner, Head of PARTRIDGE NSR Interreg project.

12:00: Keynote speech – Opportunities under the new CAP to support biodiversity
– Ms. Gaëlle Marion, DG AGRI, European Commission

12:30: Bringing back small game: The Swedish perspective
– Dr. Daniel Ligne, Game Manager, Swedish Association for Hunting and Game Management

13:00: Lunch

14:00: Bringing back small game: Perspectives from the USA
– Mr. Ben Cassidy, Safari Club International

14:30: Bringing back habitat for Grey Partridge and Hare: Experiences from Denmark
– Mr. Niels Søndergaard, Director of Advisory & Education, Danish Hunters’ Association

15:15: Threats to birds of prey, small game species and their habitats in Bulgaria
– Volen Arkumarev, Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB)

15:45: Habitat conservation and sustainable hunting of waterbirds in Europe
– Dr. David Scallan, Secretary General of FACE

16:15: Habitat conservation and sustainable hunting of Turtle Dove in Greece
– Sotirios Braziotis, Hellenic Hunters’ Confederation

16:45: Conclusions and next steps