From 9 to 11 April last the Royal Dutch Hunters' Association - Koninkliijke Nederlandse Jagersvereniging (Royal Dutch Association of Hunters) hosted the meeting of the Members of the FACE in the Netherlands. The main event was the first "European Conference of Hunters: Great Challenges for Hunting and Conservation", where a group of high-level experts discussed the hottest topics facing European hunters. These included the future of lead in ammunition, the handling of large carnivores, the African swine fever in wild boar, the sustainability of migratory bird hunting and the upcoming European elections. The conference participants consisted of a mix of Europe's leading national hunting associations, academics, representatives of the European Commission and industry as well as leading European non-governmental environmental associations.
Each session highlighted various opportunities and concerns and the need for FACE to maintain a dialogue with EU institutions to promote hunting and conservation. They also stressed the importance for FACE and its members to communicate the crucial role that European hunters play they play with regard to nature conservation, rural economies, the education of the younger generation and the promotion of cultural heritage. Torbjörn Larsson, President of FACE said “The Eruopeian hunters are united in FACE to manage the debate in Brussels where 75% of hunting regulations are decided.
Since 1977 FACE has built a bridge between hunter and European institutions; it has never been so important to have a strong FACE ”. At the meeting, Dr. David Scallan, formerly at FACE as Senior Director of Conservation, was appointed as the new Secretary General where he was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the federation's conservation program. He has a strong background in EU project management, conservation policy, game management, sustainable agriculture and man-nature conflict. He received his Ph.D. (Ph.D.) from the National University of Ireland Galway with a dissertation on the economic, ecological and social role of hunting in rural Ireland.
He has extensive knowledge of politics and European hunting policy as well as a keen interest in managing the FACE conservation agenda. As Secretary General he looks forward to effectively implementing the work of FACE in collaboration with the leaders of the National Hunting Associations of Europe. Concluding the Members' Meeting, FACE President Torbjörn Larsson said: “I am delighted that FACE has commissioned David Scallan to realize our concept for sustainable hunting that is widely accepted as an integral part of European culture and as a vital tool for the conservation and management of European nature and wildlife. "