FACE is part of the Co-creating Coexistence (CoCo) project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at enhancing how wildlife and livestock coexist in Europe’s rural landscapes — this time commencing from the very beginning, with direct input from rural communities such as hunters, landowners, and livestock keepers.

The project has partners from 12 countries and aims to develop new approaches to wildlife coexistence by listening to those who live and work closest to nature. Currently, hunters, livestock owners, and landowners are being surveyed in each project country to understand their perspectives and experiences of living alongside wildlife, including large carnivores. FACE members are actively leading this data collection in the respective countries.

By contributing real-life insights from these key rural stakeholders, we will ensure that the views of key stakeholders in the countryside are taken seriously by policymakers — helping the EU design effective, science-based coexistence policies rooted in practical experience rather than assumptions.

“Hunters are often on the frontlines of human-wildlife interactions,” said Sabrina Dietz, Wildlife Policy Officer at FACE. “Through CoCo, we aim to contribute practical knowledge and foster dialogue that supports both biodiversity and rural livelihoods.”

Learn more at cocoproject.eu