News & Events

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 /

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...

19 March, 2018 /

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...

19 March, 2018 /

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,...

09 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 /

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='']...

27 February, 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 /

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...

19 February, 2018 /

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...

12 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 /

While the year is ending, we are celebrating a start. On December 18-19, 2017 in Pravets, Bulgaria, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), in collaboration with the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE), and supported by the European Commission, the Bulgarian State, and locally by Mr. Valentin Zlatev, organized the very first “Training Course on the Surveillance of Wildlife Diseases” with the main goal...

21 December, 2017 /

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 /

From 5-8 December 2017, Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention gathered in Strasbourg for the 37th annual meeting of its Standing Committee. Experts and NGO representatives, including FACE, joined national delegates to discuss the outcomes of activities implemented throughout 2017, in particular on the control of invasive alien species, the eradication of illegal killing of birds, the relation between biodiversity and climate change, and the management of protected areas. On invasive alien species (IAS), FACE was pleased to see that its...

16 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 /

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 /
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