FACE

NATURA 2000
	This network of Europe's most important wildlife areas requires involvement from all stakeholders to ensure that they are utilised in a sustainable manner for both consumptive and non-consumptive resource use. FACE, with the support of the European Commission, seeks to promote dialogue between various stakeholders to ensure that these areas are managed in an inclusive and sustainable manner to the benefit of the environment and those who use it.
	Promoting Natura2000 & Sustainable Wildlife Use (hunting & angling) As part of an EU contract, FACE, along with ELO and IUCN, is carrying out a number of initiatives, which runs until the end of 2009. The first part included a series of workshops aimed at raising awareness amongst wildlife users, in particular hunters and anglers, regarding the compatibility of sustainable wildlife use in Natura2000 sites. These workshops, which are focused largely on new Member states, were carried out over the summer of 2008. Following from the workshops, research will be conducted into the possibility of extending the existing Sustainable Hunting Initiative (SHI) , which currently only covers birds, to include other wildlife uses, hunting of mammals and angling. This will culminate in an EU-level conference, which will draw together stakeholders to discuss and present ideas for an extended SHI. For more information on NATURA 2000 promotion project, visit www.usenatura2000.eu
	A separate part of this contract includes an audit of the existing SHI which will be carried out independently by IUCN. This involves auditing the SHI at both an EU and national level, the audit will address the key steps taken to establish the SHI as well as the FACE/BirdLife Agreement, which falls under the SHI. The results of this audit will be used to feed into the proposals for an extended SHI. Regular updates will be posted on the progress of this initiative.

For more information, the NATURA 2000 Handbook (PDF) is available