Objectives

FACE's main objectives are to promote hunting, in accordance with the principle of wise and sustainable use of natural resources, as a tool for rural development and conservation of our wildlife and biodiversity, as well as to preserve hunting as a cultural heritage together with the hunters' communities by allowing hunting traditions and shared knowledge to be passed on. As part of this FACE, representing 7,000,000 hunters and recognising the rich cultural traditions associated with hunting and hunters, works to safeguarding the undeniable, rich and varied cultural aspects that sustainable hunting traditions have added to and have helped to enriched Europe’s common heritage, as reflected over the centuries in our art, gastronomy, music and literature. Additional information: 1) To promote and defend hunting, in accordance with the principles of sustainable use of natural ressources. Hunting has long and deep traditions spanning over thousands of years. Hunting as such (i.e. different hunting methods, such as hunting with hounds, falconry, stalking, calling etc.) as well as the traditions associated with hunting (like music, art, festive events, literature, knowledge about nature, gastronomy, hunting artefacts) constitute a rich and multiMfaceted intangible cultural heritage. In promoting and defending hunting, FACE seeks to safeguard a cultural heritage together with hunters' communities by allowing hunting traditions and shared knowledge to be passed on. 2) To establish and maintain permanent relations and exchanges between hunting associations, supporting their efforts and taking part in their work. 3) To defend the moral and physical interests of members of Member Associations, taking joint decisions on subjects of common interest and implementing those decisions. This along with the promotion of hunting (as mentioned in point 1) implies to develop, maintain and amend national and international laws, treaties and conventions to permit the pursuit and perpetuation of hunting traditions, hunters' interaction with nature and their history, which provide our members with a sense of identity and continuity. 4) To contribute towards enlightening the public at large as to the principles of sustainable hunting, their value in the management and wise use of game and its habitats, as well as to the important role the public can play in the conservation of game and its habitats. This includes to uphold a positive public image of hunting and respect for hunting culture and traditions. 5) To promote all forms of activity, research and contacts associated with game and habitats, in particular with all national and international organisations which have similar concerns or would help in achieving the Federation's goal. 6) To raise and manage funds to contribute financially to projects of scientific research, of technical work, of conservation and management of wildlife and its habitats, of information and awareness raising and to any other initiative aiming to promote biodiversity conservation through the sustainable use of renewable natural resources.

Cooperation

As mentioned above our Members, who are the representative hunting associations of 36 European countries, contribute to safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of hunting. As a Federation we recognise four broad social cultures of hunting in Europe as follows: 1. Anglo-saxon 2. Germanic 3. Nordic 4. Mediterranean We as a Federation maintain dialogue and exchanges between these different hunting cultures and also with other rural stakeholders. Individually our Members maintain cultural practices in their countries in line with the standards and ethics of hunting. In particular they maintain traditions and practices through training and organisation of events - e.g. horn blowing, singing, story telling, bird calling, hunting terms/language and cooking. It should also be recognised that hunters being both urban and rural based bridge the growing urban-rural divide and actively participate in important local cultural activities e.g. The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations & the Slovácko Verbuňk, Recruit Dances. Additional information: Since its foundation in 1978, FACE, through various Members, has promoted and defended the practice, tradition and heritage of hunting where it has existed for centuries. As a Federation, our Members undertake to maintain aspects of their national hunting culture together with other rural stakeholders. FACE Members organise national exhibitions, contests and educational events related to their hunting culture. Where regions share similar cultures (Anglo-Saxon, Nordic, Central European & Mediterranean) their Membership to FACE facilitates cooperation in promoting and safeguarding their hunting culture. At European and international levels FACE promotes this rich hunting heritage as shown in our Manifesto for the period 2009-2014. This is done through various means, but in all cases through drawing on the expertise and knowledge from within our Membership. Where the cultural elements relate directly to the taking of wildlife we work to ensure that these traditional socio-cultural practices are in line with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Articles 8j & 10c). We are aware that there is a need to cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect especially on heritage issues related to hunting, which can on occasion be divisive. In this regard we are engaging in proactive consultation to overcome conflicts, where they exist. As a Secretariat we intervene when required to protect or promote the practice tradition and heritage of hunting. We regularly attend and lend support to national hunting events,most of which include significant elements related to the tradition and heritage of hunting.