Following up on questions from journalists, the President of FACE and the Presidents of the National Hunting Associations of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy made the following statements:
The letter emphasizes that the goal of the recovery of the dove it can be achieved through the involvement of the hunting community, not by excluding them. We share this point of view and express our frustration with the position held by the EC as part of the adaptive management of the collection (AHM), which refused a functional solution to the recovery of the turtle dove in the western migratory route and at the same time acceptable for the hunting community.
We agree with the points highlighted in the letter regarding the importance of hunters in the conservation of the species. We emphasize that hunters invest most of their resources in turtle dove management in Europe, which is reflected in the fact that the dove populations are in better condition in the countries where they are hunted.
Regarding the reference to the adaptive management process of the levy mentioned in the open letter, we underline that instead of using this route to find an optimal solution and create trust, it seemed that the EC was using the process to validate the position he has taken openly for five years, that is, to prohibit the hunting of turtledoves. Furthermore, it is regrettable that the weight of the EC in the debate has been unbalanced by its position as chair of the meetings. The information presented to decision makers forced them to evaluate judgments, rather than guide them Member states through a series of options to reach an optimal solution.
Regarding the management process of the turtle dove levy, we are disappointed that the fundamental principles of the levy were not presented to the decision makers and the EC created a situation whereby:
Limited options were presented, with a strong recommendation to prefer the full withdrawal option, and this is not in line with open decision making.
The need to present a number of alternative population models was rejected along with a series of alternative withdrawal quotas. Only a demographic model of the population with the only fully additive hunting mortality option was presented, contradicting the same results presented by the Scientific Consortium.
The Member States were not offered balanced information or adequate space to take impartial and informed decisions.
Regarding the reference in the letter to the infringement procedure against France and Spain for the lack of habitat protection and guarantee of hunting sustainability, we are extremely disappointed with the prejudicial approach towards hunting because the highest decreases of the species occurred in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where the habitat has not been protected and the populations of turtle doves have significantly reduced by 89-97% since the 80s.
We also find it noteworthy that some Member States, which have failed to ensure the conservation of the turtle dove, question the sustainable hunting of the species in other EU Member States where they are in place. conservation efforts, in particular through the voluntary actions of the hunting community.
Finally, we highlight our very negative experience over decades with moratoriums, which have led to permanent hunting bans and continued population decline.
In summary, we welcome the letter and support the call to the EC to urgently change direction for the sake of the turtle dove. and its long-term conservation.
Torbjorn Larsson, President of the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE)
Manuel Gallardo, President of the Royal Spanish Federation (RFEC)
Willy Schraen, President of the French Association of Hunters (FNC)
Jacinto Amaro, President of the Portuguese Federation of Hunters (FENCACA)
Massimo Buconi, President of the Italian Federation of Hunting (FIDC)