Author: FACE

PRESS RELEASE. Brussels, 30 August 2018. FACE - the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation - is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to ban the use of electronic training collars for dogs in England. While 64% of the 7,300 respondents are against a ban, it is regrettable that DEFRA still decided to support a ban on hand held remote-controlled devices. According to FACE Secretary General, Ludwig Willnegger: “FACE regrets this...

30 August, 2018 /

FACE is delighted that falconry is once again legal in Denmark. From 1 September 2018, all birds of prey may hunt partridge, pheasants, ducks, waders, crows and magpies, pigeons, rabbits and hares. This is an important accomplishment for falconry in Europe and a great achievement for UNESCO heritage. Falconry is practiced throughout the world and has a long-standing record of success in a wide range of conservation-related areas. Falconers actively engage in research, rehabilitation of birds of prey, education and awareness-raising, habitat...

29 August, 2018 /

FACE has partnered with Eagle Review - www.eagle-review.com - the No.1 travel advisor for hunting, shooting and fishing, listing over 6,000 hunting and fishing destinations across 163 countries. We will work together to ensure that hunting and fishing opportunities in Europe remain available through sustainable use of wildlife resources. Hunters have a vested interest in ensuring not only that there is wildlife to hunt but that through conservation we ensure nature and biodiversity is available for future generations. Ludwig Willnegger, FACE Secretary...

07 August, 2018 /

The Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) concluded its meeting of scientific experts (Animals Committee) on 21 July 2018. The major achievement was the positive outcome of the review of leopard hunting quota for several African countries: the quota of 7 countries could be retained, as the review showed that they were sustainable and not detrimental to the survival of the species. CITES regulates international trade to make sure that trade in endangered species is legal, sustainable and not...

31 July, 2018 /

In Center Italy, Tuscany Region, many hunters create artificial ponds for hunting purposes, and they are maintained all year long, both for water regimes and vegetation management. The pond called “Pantanelle” in Prato Municipality, not far from Firenze, is one of the most interesting of these habitat creation. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT ON THE BIODIVERSITY MANIFESTO WEBSITE...

12 July, 2018 /

This short documentary has been produced by the Czech-Moravian Hunting Association in cooperation with their leading experts and it focuses on the issues causing the decline of small game populations. The documentary clearly identifies that one of the most critical reasons for this decline is the way the agricultural land is managed, and in parallel it proposes possible solutions. Also, the current CAP has a significant negative impact on the environment, biodiversity and the poor status of many huntable and non-huntable...

12 July, 2018 /

FACE welcomes the decision (on 5 July) of the leaders of the European Parliament’s political groups to grant the Environment Committee “shared competence” with the Agriculture Committee in the environmental aspects of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Previously, the Agriculture Committee had the dominate lead in negotiating CAP reforms within the European Parliament. Sharing certain environmental articles (via Rule 54) will lead to better negotiations on the environmental dimensions of the CAP. This is line with recent calls from the...

06 July, 2018 /

On 5 and 6 June, FACE attended the EU Nature Directors meeting held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where Member States, the European Commission and stakeholder representatives met to discuss EU environment policies. The main topics included: The progress made as well as the next steps concerning the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the Nature Action Plan. While discussing the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), FACE reminded all Member States to involve hunters in the implementation...

05 July, 2018 /

Following the ruling on 21 June 2018 of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding Malta’s derogation permitting the live-capturing of seven species of finches, FACE’s express its deep regret and frustration at yet another excessively restrictive interpretation of certain provisions of the Birds Directive. It is clear to FACE that the Birds Directive does not rule out the possibility that certain long-standing traditional trapping activities can be maintained in a way that fulfils the strict conditions laid down in...

22 June, 2018 /

Ahead of a week full of meetings for the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the joint EU-ACP parliamentary assembly, FACE met with the delegation from Namibia to discuss relevant topics on the agenda. Wildlife trafficking, the role of CITES, the added value of hunting to conservation and its role in combating poaching and other wildlife crime were discussed. The ACP group and the joint parliamentary assembly with the European Parliament were created to foster economic integration...

14 June, 2018 /

The fifth annual meeting of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores took place yesterday in Brussels. The Platform brings together representatives from landowning, herding, hunting, research and conservation organisations to “promote ways and means to minimize and find solutions to conflicts between people and large carnivores”. The Plenary meeting is the annual opportunity for the Platform members to review their work plan and agree the next years’ work. The agenda started with a situation review, examining large...

06 June, 2018 /

The European Commission decided to set up 2018 as the Year of Cultural Heritage to enable people to become closer to and more involved with their cultural heritage. In that purpose, numerous initiatives and events are taking place across Europe throughout the year. FACE is currently exploring how hunters contribute to and benefit from ‘cultural ecosystem services’ within the EU framework of Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). The diverse regional hunting practices and traditions are part of Europe’s...

06 June, 2018 /

The implications of Brexit on shooting and hunting activities in the UK were discussed at a recent meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation (APPG) in the UK Parliament, Westminster, London. The extent to which the UK would be free to change its environmental rules, including those related to shooting after Brexit, would be limited by the UK’s legal obligations with international environmental agreements. It was also stressed that the UK will no longer continue to receive...

05 June, 2018 /

On 1 June 2018, the European Commission (EC) published its proposals for the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In FACE’s opinion (1) , many parts of the proposal need greater clarity to ensure a high level of ambition with regards to the future of our environment and biodiversity. POLICY REQUESTS: FACE demands the following for the next CAP: There must be a high threshold set by the EC for the approval of national CAP Strategic Plans. Insufficient plans, including those that do...

04 June, 2018 /

FACE is proud to announce its first fundraising auction organised with the support and partnership of Joh. Springer’s Erben. The auction takes place on Thursday, 28th of June 2018, from 16:00 CET in Vienna. You are invited to view the catalogue HERE. Joh. Springer’s Erben is one of Europe’s largest and most respected auction houses specialising in weapons, weapon accessories, collectors’ items, and hunting art. You can participate in the auction in the following ways: Bid in person at Springer-Auctions Hall, Kagraner Platz...

04 June, 2018 /

This 8-year project lays in the St. Gallen region on the whole hunting territory of the Pardiel Hunting Society (approx. 1000 ha). This project is divided in 3 subprojects “Fruit trees”, “Strips” and “Eco meadows”. In each subproject, 11 professional hunters deal with the habitats management of the area. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT ON THE BIODIVERSITY MANIFESTO WEBSITE...

03 June, 2018 /

The need for a more pragmatic and trust-based approach to large carnivore management was the key focus of a meeting between FACE, the Nordic Hunters’ Alliance and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. Jyrki Katainen on 31 May 2018 in Brussels. FACE opened the meeting with an overview of its clear policy requests as well as those coming from the European Parliament, most Member States and key rural stakeholders on the need to correctly apply Article 19 of the Habitats Directive....

01 June, 2018 /

On 16 May 2018, MEP Iveta Grigule-Pēterse (ALDE, LV) organised with the help of FACE a conference on “The Threat of African Swine Fever in Europe: The Key Role of Hunters” in the European Parliament. Different stakeholders expressed the need for better knowledge on wild boar biology, more financial resources to support research and stakeholder incentives to combat African Swine Fever (ASF) and stronger awareness-raising. It was stressed that there is no one size fits all solution, but rather the...

17 May, 2018 /

The theme of the World Migratory Bird Day 2018 is “Unifying our voices for bird conservation”. This year, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) is celebrating World Migratory Bird Day by promoting the recently established Waterbird Fund as a means to fill important gaps in the Second European Breeding Bird Atlas in Russia. FACE is calling on those who sustainably use and conserve waterbirds to contribute to this important Fund to ensure that we better understand the status...

12 May, 2018 /

The Black-tailed Godwit's decline in France and elsewhere in Western Europe is attributed to the loss of its breeding and migratory habitats due to intensification of agriculture practices. This conservation issue led the Ecology ministry to task ONCFS (National Office for Hunting and Wildlife) to develop, with a group of scientific experts, a Black-tailed Godwit national management plan. This plan is implemented by the Vendée Hunting Federation for a 6-year period from 2015. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT ON THE BIODIVERSITY...

12 May, 2018 /

In the context of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, FACE organised an exhibition on “Traditional Hunting and Culture in the Mediterranean Region”, hosted by MEP Remo Sernagiotto (ECR Group) in the European Parliament, from 30 April to 3 May. During the opening, MEP Sernagiotto introduced the exhibition as an excellent opportunity to promote the cultural value of traditional hunting. These traditions are an important element of the identity and history of many rural communities in Mediterranean countries - where...

04 May, 2018 /

European hunters are aware that the CAP is a crucial support mechanism for agriculture and rural areas in Europe. However, hunters and national hunting associations are also aware of the significant impact of agriculture driven by the CAP on the environment, biodiversity and the status of many huntable species in Europe. Yesterday, the European Commission presented the next Multiannual Financial Framework, which included important changes to the budget of the CAP. Because of Brexit and shifting political objectives, the total amount...

03 May, 2018 /
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