Author: FACE

This month, the Biodiversity Manifesto Project of the Month focuses in on the efforts of Maltese hunters and trappers who manage the Federation for Hunting & Conservation - Malta (FKNK) Hunting Reserves of Aħrax and Miżieb in order to combat forest fires and to encourage biodiversity. Since 1984 an average of 750 hunters and trappers, members of the FKNK (Malta’s FACE Members of 30 years) participate in cleaning, planting and pruning of indigenous trees in the Hunting Reserves of Aħrax...

05 July, 2017 /

On Tuesday 27 June, the conference “Perspectives on Combating Illegal Killing: The Role of Hunters”, organised by FACE, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU and hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz at the European Parliament in Brussels, discussed the contribution of hunters in combating illegal killing. MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, President of the Intergroup ‘Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside’ and Chair of the meeting, stated that: “Hunters have an important role to play in tackling illegal killing, through their involvement...

29 June, 2017 /

In conjunction with their national partners, FACE and WWF organised a regional workshop of the Large Carnivore Platform in Bucharest, Romania on Coexistence between people and large carnivores: Sharing good practice in monitoring and communication. Together with the Secretariat of the Platform, they brought together the different actors involved with large carnivore management in Romania. There was a great variety of presentations, with a focus on the conservation, management and monitoring of large carnivores in different European countries. The workshop aimed at...

16 June, 2017 /

From the 12-14 June, FACE attended a Stakeholder workshop hosted by Denmark for the development of an AEWA International Species Management Plan for the Barnacle Goose (East Greenland/Scotland & Ireland; Svalbard/South-west Scotland; and Russia/North-west Europe populations). The Barnacle goose has seen a remarkable increase of its population and is now creating many problems for agriculture, nature conservation and air safety. At the workshop, there was disagreement expressed by some on the legal framework for managing the Barnacle goose at the flyway level...

15 June, 2017 /

To follow up on the presentation of the EU Action Plan on Nature, People and the Economy, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the Maltese Presidency jointly hosted a conference on 6 June 2017 on the EU Nature Directives Action Plan. A wide range of stakeholders came together to discuss the Plan and its implementation. FACE, together with other stakeholders, welcomed the opportunity to discuss it. The plan is ambitious and has to be achieved in a short period...

06 June, 2017 /

From the 1-3 of June, FACE attended the 12th meeting of the Group of Experts of the Bern Convention on Invasive Alien Species in Madeira (Portugal). At the meeting, Member States presented their implementation reports on the European Strategy on IAS. A number of NGOs also presented their reports and progress made on IAS. FACE’s Conservation Policy Assistant, Monia Anane, participated in this meeting and presenting the updated FACE Implementation Report of the Code of Conduct on Hunting and IAS. This included...

05 June, 2017 /

Every June, the EU Platform on Coexistence with Large Carnivores convenes in Brussels for their plenary meeting. Items on the agenda included the presentation of the case studies analysis by the Platform secretariat. The final report on the case studies will be presented next year. After that there were presentations of regional platforms dealing with large carnivores: the Alpine Convention platform, the Carpathian Convention and the Switzerland large carnivore platform. There was also some preparatory work for the regional workshop in Romania,...

02 June, 2017 /

On the 29-30 May, FACE attended the biannual meeting of the EU Nature and Biodiversity Directors in Malta. The main points discussed were: the need to do much more to achieve the targets of the EU Biodiversity Strategy by 2020; the relevance of the Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy; the need to implement the Natura 2000 network to its full potential; the public awareness and understanding that needs to be improved to achieve the objectives; and the importance of adequate funding for the...

31 May, 2017 /

This month, FACE has chosen the Latvian conservation of large carnivores as the Biodiversity Manifesto project of the month. The Latvian hunters are involved in multiple ways in a project to monitor population changes in Wolf and Lynx populations. Latvia has managed a stable population with a slight increase. The objective is to have no less than 300 – 500 wolves (Canis lupus) in spring before young puppies are born. This is a well managed population that has come from an...

31 May, 2017 /

To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Habitats Directive and of the LIFE Programme, the European Commission together with the European Parliament, the Council Presidency and the Committee of the Regions declared 21st May as “European Natura 2000 Day”. Natura 2000 is producing good results but implementation clearly needs improvement at Member State level in particular with greater stakeholder involvement and dialogue. FACE will be supporting a better implementation of Natura 2000 as outlined in the EU Action Plan for Nature, People...

19 May, 2017 /

FACE was present at a conference on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is a major policy in Europe and currently uses the largest portion of the European Commission’s (EC) budget (almost 40%). It has resulted in major improvements in food production since its conception in 1957, however, there is recognition that the future CAP to be more sustainable. For FACE, the decline in farmland biodiversity, especially (huntable) small game species, is a very important subject....

12 May, 2017 /

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) accounts for nearly 40% of the EU budget and is a crucial support mechanism for agriculture and the rural environment in Europe. Many hunters will be aware that European agriculture has had a significant impact on farmland biodiversity, including many small game species. In 2020, the CAP will be revised; FACE and its members will be working hard to improve the next CAP and its consequences for hunting and conservation. In FACE’s view, the next CAP...

10 May, 2017 /

This year, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) is celebrating World Migratory Bird Day as a means to promote the recently established Waterbird Fund. 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 of our migratory waterbird populations. The FACE Biodiversity Manifesto demonstrates that hunters are already actively involved in managing and creating wetlands that are important for migratory birds in Europe. However,...

10 May, 2017 /

Last week, the European Commission published its “Action Plan for Nature, People and the Economy”, which was the result of the “Fitness Check” of the EU nature directives. FACE, with input from its Members, has been involved in the entire Fitness Check consultation process including the development of this EU Action Plan. The Plan includes important actions for European hunters to be delivered by 2019, including: Updating guidance on species protection rules under the Habitats Directive; Updating the “Key concepts document on the...

04 May, 2017 /

On 29 April, ANCPG, RSHCB, and FACE highlighted the necessity for stronger collaboration between farmers and hunters at a conference on farmland small game management. All stakeholders agreed on the importance of strong partnerships to conserve small game species threatened by the intensification of farming. Related Member: BELGIUM: Royal Saint-Hubert Club de Belgique (RSHCB)...

02 May, 2017 /

Examples from Europe where hunting positively influences the conservation of threatened species. In 2017, FACE gathered nine projects in five countries in Europe where hunters are involved in the conservation of threatened species. Hunting, as an activity, creates a powerful incentive for the promotion of biodiversity conservation. Species that are threatened by changing land uses and farming practices, like the Grey Partridge and the Red Grouse, can benefit from actions of hunters. It is in all our interest to conserve biodiversity;...

25 April, 2017 /

On Friday 7 April, the representatives of the European hunting world gathered in Brussels for the 2017 FACE Members’ Meeting, which was focused on a new strategy for the years ahead. The FACE Members’ Meeting takes place once a year to enhance exchanges between FACE Members and to boost implementation of FACE’s positions and initiatives. This year, the meeting focused on FACE’s long term goal: To promote sustainable hunting as an integral part of European culture and a vital tool for...

10 April, 2017 /

On Thursday 6 April, FACE, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU, in conjunction with CIC, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, organised a workshop on “Preparing Hunters for African Swine Fever” in Brussels. African swine fever (ASF) is a highly transmissible disease affecting pigs and wild boars with serious socio-economic, wildlife and public health consequences. The disease can spread rapidly, irrespective of national borders. With regard to wildlife management and hunting, AFS can be devastating....

07 April, 2017 /

Today, the European Parliament (EP) in plenary session voted on the revision of the EU Firearms Directive and approved it. All amendments have been rejected. The provisional agreement on the revision of the EU Firearms Directive - which was agreed during the trilogue meetings, between EP, the Council and European Commission - sets out the conditions under which private persons may lawfully acquire and possess firearms or transfer them to another EU country. This agreement was previously approved by the EP...

14 March, 2017 /

On Tuesday 7th March, FACE, the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU, organised the conference “The future of the Nature Directives: Where are we going?”, hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz and MEP Renata Briano at the European Parliament in Brussels. Recently, the European Commission (EC) published the Fitness Check evaluation of the EU Nature Directives and concluded that they remain highly relevant and fit for purpose. However, in order to fully achieve the objectives of the Nature...

08 March, 2017 /

Today, at the International Weapons Exhibition (IWA) and Outdoor Classics 2017 trade show in Nuremberg, Germany, FACE and the Association of European Manufacturers of Sporting Firearms (ESFAM) strengthened again their bond and commitment to tackle remaining critical issues of the Firearms Directive ahead of the crucial vote in the European Parliament plenary session mid of March 2017. Provisions for authorisations, licenses, including renewals and prolongations, and storage of firearms still remain unclear, with a danger of over-regulation leading to poor implementation...

06 March, 2017 /

FACE, Copa & Cogeca, CEPF, ELO welcome new EU Court of Auditors report showing huge potential of Natura 2000 in protecting biodiversity but warn uptake is poor as funds difficult to access. FACE, Copa & Cogeca, CEPF, ELO welcomed in Brussels today a new EU Court of Auditors report which shows the huge potential of Natura 2000 in protecting biodiversity but warn that uptake is poor as the network is not being managed properly and funds are difficult to access. The report...

24 February, 2017 /
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