TAIEX Seminar 23/03/2004, Sofia Nature conservation & awareness raising among the European hunters’ community Wildlife management & Hunting in an enlarged Europe Challenges & Opportunities Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the E.U. Fédération des Associations de Chasse et Conservation de la Faune Sauvage de l’U.E. Dr. Yves Lecocq FACE Secretary-General Tallinn, Estonia

= > Defends and represents the collective interests of its Members at European and international level => Promotes hunting in accordance with the principle of wise and sustainable use => Members in 36 European countries (representing 7 million hunters), including Estonia FACE - Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the E.U.

FACE - Principle of wise and sustainable use of natural resources Use of wild living resources, if sustainable, is an important conservation tool because the social and economic benefits derived from such use provide incentives for people to conserve them Sustainable use of natural resources = conservation tool IUCN Policy Statement, Amman 2000

The impact of “Europe” on Hunting? Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the E.U. Fédération des Associations de Chasse et Conservation de la Faune Sauvage de l’U.E.

but There is no European or EU hunting policy There are a number of Regulations, Directives, Conventions or policies likely to directly or indirectly affect hunting in practice

Europe = wide diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna But this diversity also applies to human cultures and traditions This socio-cultural diversity constitutes a great asset and value. DIVERSITY !

Models for "Europe of Hunting" 4

Northern Europe Natural “harvest” (intended to generate food) Hunting is popular and democratic Highest proportion of hunters in Europe (1/20) Free access to private land Sometimes free hunting on public land

Southern Europe Social event Management focused on habitats rather than on species Hunting is popular (1/40) Hunting rights not always linked to property rights

Anglo-Saxon Countries Considered a “sport” “Sportive” or gentleman behaviour Professional habitat and game management 1 of 60 citizens is a hunter Priority for property rights

Central Europe Long tradition and strict rules, well regulated hunting Above all management of larger game species Low proportion of hunters (1/300) Hunting right (partly) dissociated from property right

Common Features  Love for Nature  Active interest in wildlife management  Strong social dimension  Close link between hunters and their dogs

Benefits from hunting  Game management  Wildlife conservation  Habitat restoration & management  Contribute to rural development  3 billion € spent on Biodiversity  full-time jobs

7 Million European Hunters 75% hunt in local area - on own land - on rented land - on public land - as member of a local association, club, syndicate… - as (paying) guest

Judgment of in the Case Herrmann v. Germany (application no. 9300/07)

…the Court agreed that the obligation to allow the practice of the hunt on Mr X’s premises interfered with his right to the peaceful enjoyment of his property…accepted, however, that the aim of the provisions in question, namely the fact that the management of the game stock was aimed at maintaining varied and healthy game populations and at avoiding game damage, was in the general interest

…the situation in Germany…made it necessary to allow area-wide hunting on all suitable premises… The German legal regime did…not exempt any public or private owners of property which was suitable for hunting from the obligation to tolerate hunting on their premises

…justified in particular by the necessity to pool smaller plots in order to allow for area-wide hunting and thus to assure an effective management of the game stock

The Court noted that the hunting associations…were established in the form of public-law associations, being subject to the control of the hunting authority…were thus subject to State supervision…beyond the supervision normally exercised over private associations …sufficiently integrated into State structures in order to qualify them as public law institutions

"Game" Species = wild living resource Sustainable use = important conservation tool “because the social and economic benefits derived from such use provide incentives for people to conserve them” (IUCN; World Conservation Congress, Amman, October 2000) Hunting

FACE = Lobbying to promote hunting at the level of European institutions Principle of Subsidiarity  No uniform “European hunting Law”  No unnecessary “harmonisation” (e.g. of hunting systems)  Framework of legal instruments and policies

E.U. Legislation from a hunting point of view

Contribute to a better perception by the public of game meat as a quality product EU hygiene and public health rules

European Firearms Pass - > facilitates travelling for hunters "Firearms" Directive

(79/409/EEC) "Birds" Directive “on the conservation of wild birds”

Preamble : whereas, because of their high population level, geographical distribution and reproductive rate, certain species may be hunted, which constitutes acceptable exploitation; "Birds" Directive

Article 1 : This Directive relates to the conservation of all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild states … and … covers the protection, management and control of these species and lays down rules for their exploitation "Birds" Directive

Article 2 : Member States shall… maintain the population of the species… at a level which corresponds in particular to ecological, scientific and cultural requirements & taking account of economic and recreational requirements "Birds" Directive

Article 4 The species mentioned in Annex I shall be the subject of conservation measures concerning their habitat… Member States shall classify the most suitable territories as special protection areas "Birds" Directive

Article 5: Member States shall… establish a general system of protection for all species of birds… prohibiting in particular: - deliberate killing or capture… - deliberate destruction of, or damage to, their nests and eggs… - deliberate disturbance of these birds particularly during the period of breeding and rearing grounds…

"Birds" Directive Article 7: Owing to their population level, geographical distribution and reproductive rate… the species listed in Annex II (II/1 & II/2) may be hunted under national legislation

"Birds" Directive Article 7§4: Member States shall… see… that the species to which hunting regulation apply are not hunted during their period of reproduction or during their return to their rearing grounds

"Birds" Directive Article 8 Member States shall prohibit the use of all means, arrangements or methods used for the large-scale or non-selective capture or killing of birds… in particular… those listed in Annex IV

"Birds" Directive Article 9§1: Member States may derogate… where there is no other satisfactory solution… (a)… - to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock,… - for the protection of flora and fauna… (c) to permit, under strictly supervised conditions and on a selective basis the… judicious use of certain birds in small numbers.

"Guidance document on hunting under Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds"

on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora 92/43/EEC "Habitats" or “F.F.H.” Directive

Article 3: A coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation shall be set up under the title NATURA 2000… composed of sites hosting the natural habitat types listed in Annex I and habitats of the species listed in Annex II

Article 6: Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation (+ special protection areas), the deterioration of habitats… as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant…

Article 12: Member States shall take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for the species listed in Annex IV - all bat species - Castor fiber - Canis lupus (except certain regions) - Ursus arctos - Lutra lutra - Lynx lynx (except Estonia) - …

Article 14: If… Member States deem it necessary, they shall take measures to ensure that the taking in the wild of specimens of species listed in Annex V… is compatible with their being maintained at a favourable conservation status. - Martes martes - Mustela putorius - Lepus timidus - Rupicapra rupicapra + Lynx (Estonia), Wolf (certain regions) - …

Article 16: Provided that there is no satisfactory alternative… Member States may derogate… (a) in the interest of protecting wild fauna and flora… (b) to prevent serious damage… (c) in the interest of public health and public safety, of for other imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature… (e) to allow, under strictly supervised conditions, on a selective basis… the taking or keeping of certain Annex IV specimens in limited numbers

Brown bear - Wolf - Lynx "Conservation through sustainable use"

Sustainable Hunting Initiative Partners: FACE, BirdLife International, European Commission D.G. ENV 10 points, including: - accepting the “Birds” Directive - programme for scientific (data collecting), conservation (management plans, hunting inside protected areas) & awareness raising measures =>Charter on sustainable hunting?

Agreement FACE/BirdLife International (10/2004) Both organisations: - recognise the “Birds” Directive as an appropriate legal instrument - support the NATURA 2000 Network, which is not incompatible with hunting - promote the collecting of data, including of hunting bag statistics - call for enforcement, education and awareness raising - ask that lead shot for hunting in wetlands is phased out by 2009

Thank you for your attention