From 16–18 February, Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI) visited Cabañeros National Park (Spain) to examine concerns raised by petitioners about biodiversity degradation and the enforcement of EU nature legislation, including the Habitats and Birds Directives. The delegation met local stakeholders and authorities to gather first-hand information on the situation and its impacts on surrounding communities. FACE’s Spanish member, the Real Federación Española de Caza (RFEC), has been actively following this case.

The petition, submitted in 2024, raises concerns about the ecological consequences of the hunting ban imposed in December 2020, which the petitioner argues was implemented without alternative wildlife-management solutions. It claims that the absence of ungulate population control has contributed to major ecological imbalance and habitat deterioration.

While Cabañeros forms part of the Natura 2000 network, the European Commission has indicated that wildlife-management decisions fall primarily under national responsibility. The PETI mission will report its findings to the Committee at a later stage