Nature Conservation

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 /

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 /

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 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 /

This hunting and wildlife natural reserve is located in the Loire department in France. The reserve was funded in 1987, lays on 38 ha and is composed by 3 ponds surrounded by grasslands and bocage. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT ON THE BIODIVERSITY MANIFESTO WEBSITE...

01 April, 2018 /

FACE is delighted to share the updated FACE Biodiversity Manifesto. It lists 38 biodiversity-related actions that are followed by European hunters and FACE. The Biodiversity Manifesto reflects the rigorous and active commitment made by FACE, its Members and Europe’s 7 million hunters to ensure that hunting is sustainable and contributes positively to: Habitats Species Protected Areas Sustainable Use Green Infrastructure Ecosystem Services Investing in Nature DOWNLOAD THE NEW BIODIVERSITY MANIFESTO [ EN - FR - DE - CZ ] -...

23 March, 2018 /

FACE welcomes the European Court of Auditors call for future spending under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be based on ambitious and relevant performance targets including biodiversity. The call comes in a briefing paper on the future of the CAP, in response to the European Commission’s Communication on the future of food and farming after 2020. The CAP is currently under review, as the current seven-year planning period for EU finances ends in 2020. The European Court of Auditors report comes...

20 March, 2018 /

The project of the month for March celebrates the ancient old tradition of creating nesting baskets for ducks. The Biodiversity Manifesto (BDM) presents multiple projects in the Netherlands (Nuenen and Delfland) where hunters create and place the nesting baskets. The baskets are ideal for duck species like the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), but also for other types of birds like the Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) and even Little owls (Athene noctua) are reported to use the nesting spots. Nesting baskets There are multiple...

07 March, 2018 /

European hunters know very well that agriculture has a significant impact on farmland biodiversity, including many small game species, and many of them are farmers themselves. FACE, in a high-level meeting, with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, stressed that the next CAP after 2020 needs to deliver more for hunting and conservation and in particular for concrete and measurable biodiversity objectives. At the meeting, which took place on 8 February 2018 in Brussels, FACE discussed the many challenges facing...

20 February, 2018 /

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February to raise global awareness about the important role of wetlands for people and nature, and to promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Unfortunately, many of Europe’s wetlands have been lost or degraded through land use changes, which has led to the decline of many waterbird populations. The next Common Agricultural Policy (post 2020) needs to better support Europe’s biodiversity, including our sensitive wetland habitats. The FACE Biodiversity Manifesto shows that...

02 February, 2018 /

Each year at the beginning of the spring, the Hunting Interest Group of Mons invites hunters and other nature lovers to meet for a one-day spring counting. For the 10th edition, the 21 March 2017, around 50 people from different regions answered the call under a cold and grey sky. The results show 60-90 Grey Partridges and 80-90 Brown Hares per 100 ha. This is a remarkable increase of the populations although there is no game release in the area. The results...

06 January, 2018 /

I. OVERVIEW FACE is asking for a new ‘biodiversity’ instrument to improve the Greening component of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In short, this biodiversity instrument would: Establish an entry-level measure for farmers, which would permit them to dedicate part of their farmland to non-productive use for biodiversity only; Enable the farmer to dedicate a minimum measurable area of farmland for biodiversity in accordance with specific land type/use characteristics, agreed at national level; Require national administrative structures to be adapted...

19 December, 2017 /

FACE, together with our colleagues in the Natura 2000 Users Forum (Copa-Cogeca - European Farmers/European Agri-Cooperatives, CEPF - the Confederation of European Forest Owners, The European Landowners’ Organisation - the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, and EAA - European Anglers Alliance) in conjunction with the European Historic Houses Association (EHHA) and CIC have designed a questionnaire on Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). This is now available in 20 European languages. Cultural Ecosystem Services are non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, such...

06 December, 2017 /

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 /

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 /

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 /

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 /

“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 /
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