Wildlife populations
In the midst of the war going on in Ukraine, a consortium of international organizations, including FAO and others, met with Ukrainian hunters and national representatives of neighboring countries. The focus was on the strategy for restoring wildlife populations in Ukraine and sharing best practices from global experiences. FACE was invited to participate at the invitation of the Ukrainian Association of Hunters and Hunting Territories, now its new member. Represented by political advisor Tristan Breijer, FACE shared European success stories in the conservation and recovery of wildlife and habitats, as well as the reintroduction of species to regions where biodiversity has critically declined.
Very serious risks
According to IUCN reports, more than 70% of the world's mammals, birds and amphibians are currently in conflict zones and are at serious risk due to limited conservation opportunities. According to Vasyl Novytskyi of the National Agrarian University, more than 80 species are at risk of extinction due to the conflict in Ukraine and 20% of protected areas are affected by the war. Approximately 650.000 hectares of Ukrainian forested areas are compromised by anti-personnel mines. FACE is committed to providing essential guidance to its members in Ukraine in such a critical situation. It is clear that hunters have a key role to play in nature restoration efforts, as demonstrated by FACE's Biodiversity Manifesto.
A significant threat
Recent data from 2022-2023 reveal that the fox population in Ukraine has increased from 48.000 to over 200.000 since the war began, due to the cessation of active management. This has led to a rampant increase in rabies, posing a significant threat to other mammals and humans. Oleksandr Ryevnivtsev, FAO Representative to Ukraine, highlighted the crucial role of hunters in mitigating wildlife disease risks and maintaining biosecurity, saying: “Hunters are on the front line when it comes to combating the threat of wildlife diseases. wildlife". Ukraine is internationally important for its biodiversity. Restoring habitats and improving biodiversity are critical to the future of Ukraine's many wildlife species. The harmful effects of poaching and environmental degradation during war are long-lasting; some parts of Europe are still grappling with the consequences and some species have never fully recovered. Collaborative efforts are essential to mitigate these impacts in Ukraine (source: Face).