Author: FACE

Worryingly for FACE, the European Commission’s (EC) Communication* on the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) does not acknowledge the biodiversity crisis on Europe’s farmland. Of significance, the EC has confirmed that next CAP will again include a two-pillar structure whereby farmers will receive area-based payments (under Pillar I), which may not effectively deliver public goods other than food. FACE was hoping for an improved CAP structure whereby direct payments to farmers would also be clearly linked to measurable environmental outcomes....

04 December, 2017 /

On Tuesday, 28 November 2017, the Christmas dinner organised by FACE and the Association of European Manufacturers of Sporting Firearms (ESFAM) has been the occasion for hunters and producers of sporting and hunting firearms to meet Members of the European Parliament and officials from the European Commission and Council and other organisations sensitive to the matter. The dinner hosted a fruitful debate with the aim to strengthen the relationships and the alliance between hunters, producers and decision makers in order to...

30 November, 2017 /

Between 2009 and 2013, the Czech Hunting Association jointly with the Mendel University in Brno and Dr. Petr Marada conducted a couple of corridors projects in farmland in Hodonín District (South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic). Those projects have numerous of purposes: increase the local biodiversity, facilitate animal migration, create an anti-erosion function and improve water retention and enhancing the aesthetic value of the landscape.   The first project, called “The Holy Trinity habitat corridor” has been deployed in Šardice municipality. It...

30 November, 2017 /

On 27 November, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) had a very productive meeting with the EU Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, and his staff where a range of issues linked to migratory birds, geese, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and large carnivores were discussed. At the outset of the meeting, FACE reaffirmed its commitment to help to promote better implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives in line with the EU Action Plan for nature, people and economy. In...

29 November, 2017 /

The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a more pragmatic approach to EU nature conservation. During the plenary session in Strasbourg on 15 November, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the “Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy”, which was the result of the “Fitness Check” of the EU nature directives. In this resolution the Members of the European Parliament called for a flexible and adaptive approach to nature conservation, in particular it acknowledged that some populations of...

16 November, 2017 /

Strasbourg, 15 November 2017 - In recent months, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee debated the “Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy”, which was the result of the “Fitness Check” of the EU nature directives. The Environment Committee adopted a draft Resolution on the Action Plan, as they felt that certain issues were missing. Today, the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of a more pragmatic approach to EU nature conservation. An important addition from the European Parliament is a...

15 November, 2017 /

The Ballydangan Bog Red Grouse Project, Co. Roscommon started in 2009 because members of Moore Gun Club wanted to do something about the ever-decreasing numbers of Red Grouse on raised bogs in the region. After some initial support from Roscommon Regional Game Council, a professional conservation plan was developed. From there, the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) provided support along with several other stakeholders including Bord na Móna and other important government agencies started backing the project. Today, the...

02 November, 2017 /

Manila, 28 October 2017 - For the past week in Manila, the Philippines, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE) and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) jointly contributed to many intense and high-level debates dealing with lead ammunition, illegal killing of birds and new listing proposals for species during the 12th Conference of Parties to the CMS. Avian Working Group At the beginning of the week, working groups discussed resolutions, decisions and listing proposals...

31 October, 2017 /

FACE and the Safari Club International (SCI) together organised a dinner debate in the European Parliament on 16 October 2017. The subject of the debate was the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), with a focus on role of trophy hunting in conservation. The evening provided a lively debate on these topics among members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, representatives Zambia and Namibia and different stakeholders, including the leadership of SCI’s...

20 October, 2017 /

Much more effective measures need to be implemented now to mitigate the increasing conflicts between humans and large carnivores in Europe. This was the main message emerging from the conference “Coexisting with Large Carnivores: Challenges and Solutions” on 17 October 2017, at the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference was hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, EPP Group, President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside” and organised by FACE, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the...

19 October, 2017 /

On 14 October 2017, FACE participated in the 25th Anniversary celebrations of Lovački Savez Herzeg Bosne, one of the FACE Members in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the invitation of the Association’s President, Slavko Marin, and Secretary General, Ivica Lučić. The celebrations took place in the city of Mostar. The event gathered close to 300 people, including representatives of the country’s hunting associations, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as one CIC Vice-President. FACE gave a television...

14 October, 2017 /

From 12 to 14 October 2017, FACE attended a regional workshop of the EU Large Carnivore Platform in the Alpine region of Italy. The workshop was organised by the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO) and EUROPARC. The goal was to provide examples of best practices of coexistence between people and large carnivores in mountainous/alpine areas. The workshop took place in the Parco Naturale Prealpi Guilie, near Venzone in Italy. At the meeting, the presentations focused on the role of communication in improving...

12 October, 2017 /

From 3 to 6 October 2017, governments, stakeholders and experts convened in Paris for the first planning workshop on the Greylag Goose International Single Species Management Plan (ISSMP). This plan is part of the Africa Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), with the goal of applying a flyway approach to the management of an over-abundant (conflict-causing) goose species. The most important conclusion of the workshop was that sustainable hunting should be the main objective of the ISSMP. After a steep decline of...

05 October, 2017 /

The conference “Coexisting with Large Carnivores: Challenges and Solutions” is hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, President of the European Parliament Intergroup “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside”, and organised by FACE, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU. The conference will take place on 17 October 2017 at the European Parliament, Brussels. Recent data indicate that most large carnivore populations are stable or increasing in Europe’s densely populated multifunctional landscapes. While this trend provides a reason to celebrate, many conflicts...

05 October, 2017 /

On the 27-29 September 2017, FACE was in Tallinn, Estonia to attend the meeting of the EU Nature and Biodiversity Directors. At the meeting, the European Commission provided an overview of the outcomes of the status of European forests and stressed the need for better financial support to resolve this issue. The Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) presented the view of the Natura 2000 Users Forum (which includes FACE) on the importance of improving support for sustainable forestry within national...

05 October, 2017 /

The main purpose of the project of this month is to create guilds within a defined area of a minimum of 1.000-1.500 hectares, where farmers, ornithologists, hunters, beekeepers etc. work together to manage their land in the optimal way for Brown Hare (Lepus Europaeus) and Grey Partridge (Perdix Perdix) conservation activities. In collaboration with environmental NGOs, universities, scientists, but also with public authorities, land owners, farmers and hunters are voluntarily conducting research and collecting data with a primary focus on the...

25 September, 2017 /

Richard Hearn, Matthieu Guillemain & David Scallan Most ducks are popular quarry throughout Europe and, on average, their numbers have been healthy in recent decades as a result of conservation actions such as habitat management at important sites. However, several huntable duck species are now showing signs of decline, epitomised by the Common Pochard, which has declined considerably in recent years. In response, there is growing recognition of the need to improve our knowledge of the population dynamics of these species, and...

19 September, 2017 /

On 6-7 September, FACE celebrated its 40th anniversary in Brussels. The event coincided with FACE’s annual General Assembly, a high-level conference in the European Parliament and an exhibition on involving young hunters in nature conservation. In attendance was the Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, the Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, numerous Members of the European Parliament, representatives from European Commission as well as the delegations of European hunting associations and a wide range of other stakeholders. Conference: “Young Hunters: Securing a future for...

14 September, 2017 /

From 18-22 July 2017, FACE attended the 29th meeting of the Animals Committee (AC) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). This was the first meeting after the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which FACE attended in Johannesburg last year. This meeting sets the priorities for the coming cycle of meetings, culminating in CoP 18 in Sri Lanka. The AC gives scientific input in all the processes involving animal species. The meeting was attended...

09 September, 2017 /

“Young Hunters: Securing a future for Europe’s biodiversity” European Parliament, 6 September 2017, Brussels Sustainable hunting is a positive force for conservation! This was one of the messages delivered by Environment Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, at the conference “Young Hunters: Securing a future for Europe’s biodiversity” on 6 September 2017 at the European Parliament. The Commissioner also pointed to the value of FACE Biodiversity Manifesto to demonstrate how Europe’s 7 million hunters contribute to delivering the goals of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020. With a...

08 September, 2017 /

The 18th International Wildlife Law Conference will be held in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on 18-19 April 2018. The conference is being organised by Tilburg University’s Department of European and International Public Law. An optional post-conference field trip, arranged with Staatsbosbeheer, will be held on April 20, 2018. The Conference will include papers on a range of legal and policy frameworks for achieving transboundary conservation, including the various global and regional wildlife treaties and the European Union’s Nature Directives. Papers are invited...

07 September, 2017 /

On 22 June 2017, FACE attended a two day meeting (22-23 June 2017) of the Task Force in Sliema, Malta, to make progress towards eradicating the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Wild Birds (IKB). The meeting was chaired by the Maltese Government and attended by over 80 participants from 24 countries in Europe, 17 of which are EU member states, 29 observer organisations that included NGOs, enforcement groups and networks and scientific organisations. The meeting was part of the Convention...

07 September, 2017 /

On the 18-20 August 2017, FACE was invited by Pro Sacile, the municipality of Sacile and the European Association of Traditional Hunting (AECT) to the championship of bird singing imitation in Sacile, Italy. The competition took place during the famous 744th Sagra dei Osei, the festival of birds. For many generations, incredibly talented competitors from France, Spain and Italy participate each year at this competition and perpetuate the tradition. FACE supports regional and traditional hunting activities throughout Europe as important aspects...

06 September, 2017 /

The project of this month shows how hunters from Club della Becaccia are working together with research institutions to monitor wintering Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) in protected areas in Italy since 2003. The work is undertaken by Club della Becaccia and the National Institute for Wildlife (INFS-ISPRA) in conjunction with the University of Genoa. Together, they collaborate in the monitoring design, field surveys and data analysis. Hunters play a key role in field surveys by using highly trained pointing dogs to flush...

04 August, 2017 /

Without prejudice to any further announcements/actions, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) feels compelled to provide clarification on certain provisions of the Birds Directive following the recent opinion of the EU Advocate General (AG) in the live-finch capturing (trapping) case (European Commission vs. Malta). Although many are already referring to this opinion as yet another excessively restrictive and possibly erroneous interpretation of certain relevant provisions of the Birds Directive, FACE would like to clarify that this is a non-binding...

27 July, 2017 /
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