After only eleven days in office, the European Commission presented the long-anticipated EU Green Deal. FACE analysed the proposals and explains what it means for European hunters....
On yesterday evening’s agenda was the proposal by Norway to move the Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) from Appendix II (strictly protected) to Appendix III (protected). ...
FACE recently participated at the 39th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, 3-6 December 2019. The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (or Bern Convention) is the first international agreement dedicated to nature conservation, covering most of Europe and some African countries (now 50 States in total). ...
Currently considered as extinct in the wild, the Italian grey partridge (Perdix perdix italica) is at the center of the LIFE Perdix Project launched in January 2019. ...
Aware of the significant impact of agriculture on the environment and biodiversity in Europe, hunters and national hunting associations are particularly concerned about the status of small game species and the role of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in conservation....
The hunting community is becoming increasingly concerned about new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in western Poland, not far from the German border, and in southern Bulgaria, very close to the Greek border. ...
Today, EU Agriculture Council ministers met in Brussels to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2020. For FACE, the CAP is a crucial support mechanism for agriculture and rural areas in Europe. ...
Recent data indicate that most large carnivore populations in Europe are stable or increasing. This is a conservation success, but it also raises multiple questions of coexistence with natural and human activities. In a recent ruling, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed that the use of hunting as a population management tool for strictly protected species is compatible with EU law. But what does that mean? And what are the possible next steps?...
In its ruling today, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirmed that the use of hunting as a population management tool for strictly protected species is compatible with EU law. The case involved questions for a preliminary ruling by Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court to the ECJ on the interpretation of derogations under the EU Habitats Directive....
It is with deep regret to hear of the passing of Poland’s former Minister of Environment, Professor Jan Szyszko, on 9 October 2019 at the age of 75. Beginning his career in politics in the late 1980s, he served as Minister of Environment for three terms, closely overseeing Poland’s environmental policy over the course of two decades. Over and above his input as a Polish state official, he decided to also pursue an academic career as professor of forestry, specializing in the...
On 15 September, the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation (RFEC) and the European Federation of Hunting and Conservation (FACE) attended at the meeting organised by the Extremadura Hunting Federation (Fedexcaza) at Feciex 2019. At the event, several key topics that concern Extremadura and Spanish hunters were discussed including the hunting of Turtle Dove, Quail, silvestrism as well as diseases that affect Iberian fauna such as myxomatosis in hares and rabbits. FACE Secretary General, Dr. David Scallan, urged all present to act firmly and defend...
On 10 September, 50 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from seven different political groups pledged their support for the re-establishment of the "Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside" Intergroup. Since its first establishment in 1985, this Intergroup serves as the key stakeholder platform within the European Parliament, enabling open cross-political discussions between decision-makers, civil society and experts....
The 18th meeting of the Conference of Parties of CITES concluded yesterday in Geneva. CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. During the past 2 weeks the parties and observers discussed 56 species listing proposals and more than 150 working documents....
Following the conclusion of FACE’s recruitment programme for a new Senior Conservation Manager, FACE is delighted to announce the appointment of Cy Griffin. Cy is excited to return to FACE after having spent three years as European Programme Manager for Wetlands International. He will be managing FACE’s conservation programme bringing strong expertise and capacity to the team through to his previous experience at FACE and with a key partner organisation, Wetlands International. The FACE General Assembly next week will be a...
The European Commission (EC) has requested the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to prepare a restriction proposal addressing the risk to wildlife and humans (via the consumption of game meat) from lead in all ammunition (shot and bullets) including target shooting. Lead in fishing weights is also included in the request...
On 25 July, the Slovak State Veterinary Services announced the first outbreak of ASF in domestic pigs (4 cases so far) in Strážné, not far away from the border with Hungary. A few weeks later, on 12 August, the first case of ASF in wild boar was confirmed (see map below – blue arrow). The positive case was found close to Strážné near the area in Hungary where over 800 positive cases since 1 January were confirmed. Following these outbreaks,...
FACE is delighted to welcome the return of Real Federación Española de Caza (RFEC) as a full Member. As one of Europe’s largest and most important countries for hunting, our cooperation will give Spanish hunters a more powerful voice. ...
On 24 and 25 June, FACE attended the 13th meeting of the Group of Experts of the Bern Convention on Invasive Species in Batumi (Georgia). The meeting was followed by 40 participants from all over Europe....
FACE is pleased to announce that Jaroslaw Kuczaj joined the FACE team, starting a secondment as Wildlife Policy Officer – Seconded national expert. He holds two masters degrees from the Department of Animal Morphology and Hunting at the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz and the Faculty of Forestry on Warsaw University of Life Sciences. He recently started Postgraduate Studies in Management on Warsaw School of Economics. Jaroslaw works for Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Torun as...
From 17-18 June, the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation) hosted a MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services) stakeholder workshop in Brussels. This workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders, including FACE, to engage in the first EU ecosystem assessment and emerging narratives. MAES is essential for measuring progress towards EU Biodiversity targets....
We are happy to announce that on 11 June Daniel Švrčula joined the secretariat and is working as Conservation Policy Assistant in the conservation team. He holds a master’s degree in forestry at Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, where he did a master thesis on Silviculture of Douglas fir. Previously he studied Forestry within Erasmus + programme at Swedish University of Agriculture in Umeå. During his studies, he worked for more than 2 years for the Czech Hunting Association...
Since 2009, the Italian Hunting Federation’s Research Team led by Dr. Michele Sorrenti has based its dialogue with the Italian goverment on strong scientific principles. Specific data collection methods, such as satellite telemetry and ringing, make it possible to implement effective management decisions in the national hunting legislation and to give the best approach to the review of European bird hunting seasons/periods (revision of the EU Key Concepts document)....
Since 2016, the Romanian decision not to issue preventative harvest quota for Brown Bear and Wolf has led to a tremendous increase in human - wildlife conflicts in Romania. Bear attacks in Romania are on the rise, having already caused many injuries and the loss of 3 human lives since the start of 2019. ...
FACE and its members have a long-standing policy of zero-tolerance towards illegal killing of birds (IKB). To make sure that this conservation concern for certain populations of birds is eradicated, it is important to work together with all relevant actors (authorities, hunters and other conservation organisations)....
Urge candidates and parties to support the FACE Election Manifesto! The upcoming European elections are of great importance to Europe’s 7 million hunters. The decisions taken in Brussels for the next five years will have a decisive impact on the direction that Member States take with regards to the environment and land use. Decisions in Brussels can have major effects on hunting and conservation throughout Europe....
