The Christmas dinner organised every year by FACE and the Association of European Manufacturers of Sporting Firearms (ESFAM) has become the annual appointment for hunters and producers of sporting and hunting firearms to meet MEPs, officials from the European Commission...
The fifth annual meeting of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores took place yesterday in Brussels. The Platform brings together representatives from landowning, herding, hunting, research and conservation organisations to “promote ways and means to minimize and find solutions to conflicts between people and large carnivores”. The Plenary meeting is the annual opportunity for the Platform members to review their work plan and agree the next years’ work. The agenda started with a situation review, examining large...
The European Commission decided to set up 2018 as the Year of Cultural Heritage to enable people to become closer to and more involved with their cultural heritage. In that purpose, numerous initiatives and events are taking place across Europe throughout the year. FACE is currently exploring how hunters contribute to and benefit from ‘cultural ecosystem services’ within the EU framework of Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). The diverse regional hunting practices and traditions are part of Europe’s...
The implications of Brexit on shooting and hunting activities in the UK were discussed at a recent meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation (APPG) in the UK Parliament, Westminster, London. The extent to which the UK would be free to change its environmental rules, including those related to shooting after Brexit, would be limited by the UK’s legal obligations with international environmental agreements. It was also stressed that the UK will no longer continue to receive...
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...
FACE is proud to announce its first fundraising auction organised with the support and partnership of Joh. Springer’s Erben. The auction takes place on Thursday, 28th of June 2018, from 16:00 CET in Vienna. You are invited to view the catalogue HERE. Joh. Springer’s Erben is one of Europe’s largest and most respected auction houses specialising in weapons, weapon accessories, collectors’ items, and hunting art. You can participate in the auction in the following ways: Bid in person at Springer-Auctions Hall, Kagraner Platz...
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...
The need for a more pragmatic and trust-based approach to large carnivore management was the key focus of a meeting between FACE, the Nordic Hunters’ Alliance and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. Jyrki Katainen on 31 May 2018 in Brussels. FACE opened the meeting with an overview of its clear policy requests as well as those coming from the European Parliament, most Member States and key rural stakeholders on the need to correctly apply Article 19 of the Habitats Directive....
Sophie Hutchinson (BASC), James Legge (CountrysideAlliance) & Ludwig Willnegger on meetings with UK MEPs on consequences of Brexit for British shooters and hunters! ...
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...
FACE is happy to present the Biodiversity Manifesto "Public Report", available in 3 languages: ...
“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...
