News & Events

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Seville, 30 April 2018 - The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE), International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), Operators and Professional Hunting Associations of Africa (OPHAA), Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA), Safari Club International (SCI), Safari Club International Foundation (SCI-F), Conservation Force and individual professional hunters from Africa jointly represented the international hunting community and highlighted their common positions on Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) for hunting trophies (CITES appendices I, II) during a...

From 23-26 April 2018, governments, NGOs and executives from international conventions from more than 70 countries and 100 organisations, gathered in Abu Dhabi for the first Global Flyways Summit. Zero-tolerance towards illegal killing of birds (IKB) was high on the summit’s agenda. Participants agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation with stakeholders including hunters to combat IKB and promote zero-tolerance. The summit also stressed the importance of the ongoing work under the Bern Convention and CMS Mediterranean Task Force on IKB,...

“Invasive alien species: Enhancing cross-border cooperation in Nutria management” - European Parliament, 10 April 2018 “Invasive alien species are one of main causes of biodiversity loss and represent a cross-border challenge” stated Stefan Leiner (European Commission) during an event on invasive alien species. The conference “Invasive Alien Species: Enhancing cross-border cooperation in Nutria management” was the occasion for water authority representatives, farmers and hunters to present their experiences and strategic approaches, and to show how cross-border cooperation between relevant stakeholders is...

“International cooperation is a crucial factor to preserve and promote Europe’s unique regional hunting traditions”, says Torbjörn Larsson. “The Nordic Hunters’ Alliance must play an even more proactive role together with all of Europe’s hunting regions to demonstrate in a wider perspective how hunting contributes towards important environmental, nature and societal values. The interests of all of Europe’s 7 million hunters must always be at the centre when decisions are made with regard to hunting and wildlife management”. Torbjörn Larsson is...

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...

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 ] -...

The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) was shocked when Anja Hazekamp, MEP for ‘The Dutch Party for The Animals’ accused the Maltese Government of having “a permanent lack of enforcement” for its spring hunting derogation. The round table debate, which took place in the European Parliament on 22 March 2018, was organised by The Dutch Party for The Animals. FACE Malta Member, the Federation for Hunting & Conservation - Malta (FKNK) President, Joseph Perici Calascione emphatically said: “It’s bizarre how...

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...

FACE is very concerned about the amendments voted and accepted by the Polish Senate to the hunting law in Poland as they would literally kill longstanding Polish hunting traditions, culture and methods. The following changes voted by the Polish Senate will have major impacts on hunters: 1. A ban on the disturbance of wild animals in the case that there is no hunting purpose Result: The amendment prevents hunters from effectively training and trialling their hunting dogs and falconers from training their...

TUESDAY, 10 APRIL 2018, 17.30 - 19.30 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS – ROOM JAN 6Q2 INTERPRETATION EN-DE-FR Cross-border cooperation with relevant stakeholders is crucial to manage the growing nutria population in Europe. Nutria are part of the EU list for invasive alien species since they form a serious threat for biodiversity. Moreover, nutria also endanger the water safety and have a negative impact on agricultural yields in many parts of the EU. >>REGISTER NOW www.conference.face.eu This is why representatives of water authorities, farmers and hunters from...

Brussels, 9 March 2018 - There are “winners” and “losers” in the conservation of wildlife in Africa! H.E. the Ambassador of Zimbabwe proclaimed at the conference “Keep Calm and Let Africa Take the Lead. The EU-Africa Dialogue: Supporting communities in wildlife conservation” on 6 March 2018 at the European Parliament in Brussels. He stated that Southern African nations were amongst the “winners” with increasing national wildlife populations. FOR MORE INFO AND PICTURES VISIT AFRICALEADS.EU At this conference, organised by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz,...

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...

The publication, which covers January 2017 – December 2017, outlines the background and key activities of FACE’s working areas: nature conservation, wildlife conservation, International agreements, animal welfare & health, firearms & ammunition, and hunting methods & culture. [button size='big' style='' text='DOWNLOAD ANNUAL REPORT - EN' icon_color='' link='https://www.face.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ReportFACE21X241018.pdf' target='_blank' color='#ffffff' hover_color='' border_color='#005000' hover_border_color='#ff7900' background_color='#005000' hover_background_color='#ff7900' font_style='' font_weight='' text_align='center' margin='']...

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...

TUESDAY, 6 MARCH 2018, 14.30 - 18.00 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BRUSSELS – ROOM ASP 5E2 INTERPRETATION EN-DE-FR The conference “Keep calm and let Africa take the lead: Supporting communities in wildlife conservation through African-EU dialogue” is hosted by MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz, President of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on “Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside”, and organised by the Federation of Association for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE) in coordination with the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO) and...

FACE ist äußerst erfreut darüber, dass in Deutschland im Koalitionsvertrag zwischen den Parteien CDU, CSU und SPD vom 07.02.2018 die Überprüfung des Schutzstatuts des Wolfs festgeschrieben wurde. Was FACE schon lange gegenüber den Europäischen Institutionen gefordert hat, nämlich die notwendige Herbeiführung einer angemessenen Bestandsreduktion, soll nun durch die „Entwicklung eines Kriterien- und Maßnahmenkatalogs zur Entnahme von Wölfen“ erreicht werden. FACE Präsident Dr. Michl Ebner betont: „Die 7 Millionen europäischen Jäger nehmen mit großer Genugtung zur Kenntnis, dass nun endlich die...

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...

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...

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