As the year draws to a close, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) wishes to share with you some of the most significant Restoration Projects that hunters across Europe have been involved in during 2022.

The Nature Restoration Law was introduced in June 2022 by the European Commission and requires European Union member states revive forests, wetlands and other landscapes marred by human development.

This restoration proposal and other recently adopted EU agricultural and environmental policies will provide the framework required to bring back biodiversity in the countryside. However, this can happen only if rural stakeholders are involved: farmers, land managers, foresters, anglers and hunters can translate Brussels’ policies into countless successful initiatives on the field.

FACE believes that it is essential to acknowledge the progress achieved so far also thanks to the work of many hunters across the EU.

May the projects listed below inspire you for the many decisions you will be taking in 2023. More projects are available on the FACE Biodiversity Manifesto.

FINNISH SOTKA: MANAGING WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE
The SOTKA project is a large-scale habitat restoration strategy by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry building wetlands and a network of resting areas for waterfowl, restoring mires and catchments, and capture small predators. The project ensures that the birds’ nest is protected from predators in valuable play a key role in this respect.  While there is a focus on ducks and game species, a numerous array of wildlife is benefitting from wetland restoration. Read more…

FRENCH HUNTERS RESTORE HABITATS FOR SMALL GAME IN FARMLANDS
In Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, the first hedgerow plantings by the hunters’ federations were carried out in the 1990s. It was made to provide shelter and restore movement corridors for hunting wildlife. Hunters aims at re-establishing a functional hedgerow network, several kilometers of hedges are planted each year in the region by hunters. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a total of more than 680 km of hedges have been planted by the hunters’ federations since the 1990s, including 110 km planted during the 2021-2022 season.  Hedgerows are an important source of biodiversity, providing habitat, food and breeding grounds for many species. In agriculture, they can provide protection against bad weather and sun for livestock and crops, as well as protection against soil erosion and pollution, particularly from nitrates. Read more…

ADVANCING THE NATURE RESTORATION AGENDA IN MALTA
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation of Malta (FKNK), has always been active in creating and safeguarding the natural habitat and environment across the rural areas of the Maltese islands. Starting from 2019, in collaboration with another eNGO, ACT, the FKNK partook in a national programme, Saġġar (to afforest), which initiative aims to plant 1,000,000 native trees and shrubs from local native stock over a 10-year-term, in rural and urban areas of the Maltese islands. Read more…