Hunters urge EU to recognise their environmental role

Hunters all over Europe urged the European Union to recognise their environmental role, during a conference organised in Brussels by the European Federation of Associations for hunting and Conservation (FACE).

Representatives of the Maltese government and hunting federation FKNK were present for the conference orgorganised in collaboration with the European Commission.

FACE urged the European Union to recognise the positive role of hunting in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration and claimed its right to be seen as a fully-fledged environmental organisation.

The conference was organised on Tuesday on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Birds Directive inaugurated by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for the Environment.

Themed ‘A new vision for the Birds Directive and the Positive role of hunting’, the conference discussed how hunting and the Birds Directive are not in contradiction.

“On the contrary, hunting and hunters contribute actively to the conservation of wild birds, habitats and biodiversity. The Directive fully recognizes the legitimacy of hunting as a form of sustainable use, providing significant social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits. In effect, European hunters are operating as a fully-fledged environmental organisation contributing to reach the targets set out by EU-policy makers,” FACE said.

FACE also quoted outgoing Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik as having recognised the hunters’ important role in wild bird conservation.

“For over 35 years, the Birds Directive has helped protect Europe's wild birds. Responsible and sustainable hunting has also played an important role, supported by agreements between hunters and bird conservation organisations, such as the one we are celebrating today between BirdLife and FACE. It's encouraging to see the hunting community adopting such a pro-active approach to bird conservation and giving such high-profile recognition to the EU Nature legislation,” Potocnik said.

Speakers gave examples of projects and initiatives carried out by hunters aiming at the conservation of wild bird species, habitats restoration, and improvement of the scientific knowledge of migratory as well as land birds, often in cooperation with other environmental stakeholders. Presentation, FACE said, highlighted how legislation alone was not enough for wildlife conservation, and cooperation between citizens and institutions must also be pursued.

Concrete actions and motivated people at ground level are fundamental for the achievement of the goals set out by the Birds Directive.

In 35 years European hunters have demonstrated to be effective partners in achieving these objectives - when and where recognised, the conference concluded.

The conference was attended by key officials from the European Commission’s DG Environment, MEPs and representatives from other political and conservation institutions and organisations and featured high-level speakers from the Commission, NGOs, science, national politics and hunting associations. 

The Federation for Hunting & Conservation - Malta (FKNK), a FACE member since 1987, was represented at the Conference by its President, Joseph Perici Calascione and its CEO, Lino Farrugia.  Maltese Government representatives were also present.

The conference also marked the 10 years of an agreement signed by BirdLife International and FACE which was characterised by constructive dialogue between the two organisations.

FACE stands firm on its commitment taken with BirdLife International, not to support initiatives aimed at amending the text of the Birds Directive, believing that such initiatives would only weaken the current provisions of the Directive, which is not in the interest of either party.

“The interpretations of this Directive must be conducted with more flexibility in order to prevent disputes that are unrelated to the conservation status of birds. The top priority for the future is the protection of habitats, and it is crucial to have an extensive network of motivated people on the ground actually achieving conservation objectives,” FACE President Gilbert de Turckheim said.