On 19 and 20 August 2025, representatives of the five largest European hunting associations (France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Germany) — all part of FACE — met in Esens, Lower Saxony, at the invitation of the German Hunting Association (DJV) to discuss their work in promoting hunting and conservation.

The meeting provided a platform for the five associations to exchange information, discuss priorities, and reinforce cooperation on pressing challenges facing their members. By sharing expertise, participants identified opportunities to strengthen their collective voice at the national level, while ensuring that the cultural and social value of hunting remains well recognised.

A key topic was how to enhance communication with hunters and the broader public. Participants discussed the importance of proactive messaging, joint campaigns, and sharing best practices to better explain the role of hunters in conservation, wildlife management and society.

The group discussed current hunter trends across Europe, with a particular focus on the encouraging rise in the number of women hunters. This development not only reflects changing demographics but also presents an opportunity to broaden the image of hunting further and attract new audiences.

Policy Priorities
Several policy files were on the agenda, including:

• Bird hunting and conservation and the implementation of the Birds Directive;
• Large carnivores, with a focus on coexistence strategies and the need for more flexible management;
• Ammunition, particularly the REACH regulation;
• Animal welfare, ensuring high standards while maintaining sustainable hunting practices.

Wildlife Management in Practice
The meeting included demonstrations of local game management efforts for the Grey Partridge, as well as effective methods of goose management to prevent agricultural damage. The participants also experienced a highly effective method of hunting geese firsthand over decoys.

Thanks to DJV
All representatives present warmly thanked the German Hunting Association (DJV) for hosting this important coordination meeting. Delegates appreciated the excellent hospitality, as well as the introduction to the rich game management practices and hunting traditions of Lower Saxony, which added a valuable perspective to the discussions.

FACE Coordination
FACE has members in 37 European countries. Thirty-two of these are organised into six regional groups that coordinate throughout the year, each nominating a Vice President to sit on the FACE Board. In addition, the five largest countries each have a seat on the FACE Board. In recent years, these five countries have taken the initiative to meet annually to coordinate and exchange information on matters of key importance to their associations.