This Convention of the Council of Europe from 1979, which can be seen as a blueprint for the EU "Birds" and "Habitats" Directives but with a more pragmatic and flexible approach to biodiversity conservation (and sustainable use), has now 48 Contracting Parties, since Serbia, Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina ratified it earlier this year. At the request of CIC, FACE Director of Public Affairs & Communication, Christine RÖDLACH, and the SG also represented this global hunters' organisation (just as CIC sometimes represents FACE at other international events), while the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey (IAF) was also present and coordinated its interventions with FACE. Other participants, besides representatives from almost 40 European countries and from the European Commission, were BirdLife International, IUCN, the Bonn (CMS) and Biodiversity (CBD) Conventions, AEWA, WWF, the Il Nibbio Foundation, etc.
In his report, T-PVS Chairman Dr. Jon OTTOSSON (Icelandic Institute of Natural History) referred to the European Charter on Hunting & Biodiversity - adopted one year earlier by T-PVS - and the special publications of this Charter by FACE and by CIC. In this respect, it is worth to mention that - following a proposal by Slovenia - in the T-PVS Work programme for 2009, a similar charter on sustainable angling is to be developed, subject to sufficient funding becoming available.
Under the agenda point "Legal aspects", Consultant in Environmental Policy and Law Clare SHINE presented her report on the implementation of the Bern Convention in Bulgaria. As comprehensive and well researched as it was, FACE had nevertheless to draw the attention of the Committee to some serious errors in this report with regard to hunting in that country. Chamois is indeed not listed in Appendix II of the Convention, and for Brown bear and Wild cat, Bulgaria had made a formal reservation when it deposited its instrument of ratification, which means that, at least in theory (because in the meantime the more restrictive provisions of the EU "Habitats" Directive are applicable in this country), these species could be included in the national list of huntable game species. Such statement (by a recognised authority), could have had serious implications for hunting in other countries, e.g. for chamois in Austria, Switzerland, etc.
The T-PVS adopted a Recommendation in support of the EU "Guidelines for population Level Management for Large Carnivores", to which FACE and a number of national experts had contributed and which was finalised at an international conference in Slovenia last June. Discussions further focused in the negative impact on biodiversity of invasive alien species (such as the Grey squirrel, for which the T-PVS urged Italy to undertake without delay an eradication programme before this North American species threatens the indigenous Red squirrels in France and Switzerland) and of climate change.
Among the "case files" opened for examination and, possibly, action, was the ongoing issue of illegal killing of birds, in particular in Cyprus, but more generally in the Mediterranean region.
In 2009, the Bern Convention will celebrate its 30th anniversary and under the Swiss Presidency of the Council of Europe (second half of the year), a special commemorative event is scheduled. FACE will of course follow this up closely, as well as other relevant issues under the Convention.