Meeting of FACE Members in Sofia: Support the Nature Restoration Act for the benefit of Europe's small game

The 125th anniversary of the Union of Hunters and Fishermen in Bulgaria (UHAB) took place in Sofia, which featured the leading exponents of FACE active in ensuring a strong future for hunting and biodiversity in Europe

Brussels, 28 April 2023 - The 125th anniversary of the Union of Hunters and Fishermen in Bulgaria (UHAB) was celebrated this week in Sofia (Bulgaria), where the heads of European national hunting associations gathered for their annual meeting of members. The agenda included a wide range of pressing issues for European hunters at European level, including key files relating to the progress of FACE's retention goals. Among these problems was the new nature restoration law, which FACE has claimed since its publication last June. A FACE policy briefing released this week (link) points out that the new law has the potential to benefit small game and biodiversity through habitat and ecosystem restoration, something FACE has been advocating for decades. FACE invited decision makers to support this important opportunity.

Referring to the challenges facing European wild game populations, FACE president Torbjörn Larsson said: We need landscape-level approaches supported by the involvement of key stakeholders to develop viable conservation measures for small game. This requires the right incentives to promote community-based conservation at all levels. The new nature restoration law is of paramount importance and will help deliver FACE's strategy for 2027. The campaign of European hunters (#signforhunting) was another important topic discussed during the meeting. FACE and its members have successfully collected over 260.000 signatures to ensure a strong future for hunting and biodiversity in Europe. The campaign will land in Brussels on 6 June 2023, coinciding with Green Week and an important moment for the political debate on restoring nature.

FACE also welcomed two new members:

All-Ukrainian Association of Hunters and Users of Hunting Grounds (UAHHG) as a full member. This association was commissioned by the Ukrainian Association of Hunters and Fishermen (representing over 180.000 hunters) to represent the hunting community of Ukraine in FACE. UAHHG has 24 separate subdivisions in all regions of Ukraine and a scientific and technical council for more than 30 experts from different higher educational institutions. Among the members are 300 legal entities (users and owners of hunting grounds). Wild Sheep Foundation as an associate member. This organization works globally to improve wild sheep populations, promote scientific wildlife management, and educate the public and youth about the sustainable use and conservation benefits of hunting, while advancing the interests of the hunter.

The second day of the meeting, FACE organized a conference to discuss 'Returning small game to European farmland'. With the national CAP strategic plans in place and a new restoration law under discussion, this conference presented a vital opportunity to discuss and exchange information on small game restoration in Europe.

External speakers relevant, including Ms Gaëlle Marion of DG AGRI, European Commission, Dr. Francis Buner, head of the PARTRIDGE NSR Interreg project, and Volen Arkumarev, Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB). Speakers and participants, including a large Bulgarian delegation (UHAB), exchanged views with experts from leading national hunting associations. A number of specific actions have been agreed to advance national work for small game in Europe.