Important Meeting of the National Federation of Hunters
On March 18 and 19, the entire event took place at the International Center of Deauville in Calvados. The seaside resort hosted the general assembly and congress of the National Federation of Hunters (FNC), bringing together hundreds of participants from across France.
Departmental and regional federations, overseas delegations, partners, and elected officials: the mobilization demonstrates the territorial anchoring and structuring of the hunting world. In the various spaces of the CID, from the Michel d’Ornano auditorium to the dedicated halls for socializing, the organization allowed for a mix of institutional sequences and exchanges.
A Bold Political Showcase
The presence of state representatives and national and local elected officials gave the event a clear political significance. In Deauville, hunting positioned itself at the core of debates on biodiversity, rurality, and land management, asserting its desire to influence future decisions.
Willy Schraen at the Center of Attention
Despite a triple leg fracture, Willy Schraen, the president of the FNC, made sure to be present. His offensive and assertive speech defended hunting as a way of life, a commitment to nature, and a space of freedom for over a million French people. Refusing common misconceptions, he emphasized the role of hunters in biodiversity management and claimed tangible results.
Direct Aim at the OFB
But in Deauville, it was his criticism of the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) that left a lasting impact. Willy Schraen denounces a drift in the missions and practices of the establishment: permit training, controls, European positions, and scientific initiatives. He particularly points out lead-related fines that he deems excessive and an interpretation of laws that, according to him, diverges from European jurisprudence.
European Policies and Science in the Background
The FNC president also criticized certain OFB positions at the European level, particularly regarding potential moratoriums on certain species. He advocates for a science-based management approach, emphasizing the need to preserve current balances.
Money Matters
Another sensitive topic: the funding of the OFB. Willy Schraen criticizes the support provided to anti-hunting entities, despite hunters significantly contributing to the establishment’s budget. In Deauville, he clearly raised the issue of the return of these funds.
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