One Voice will be at the Nîmes Administrative Tribunal on 15 November 2022 to save the Lozère and Haute-Loire wolves

One Voice will be at the Nîmes Administrative Tribunal on 15 November 2022 to save the Lozère and Haute-Loire wolves
12.11.2022
France
One Voice will be at the Nîmes Administrative Tribunal on 15 November 2022 to save the Lozère and Haute-Loire wolves
Wildlife

On Tuesday 15 November 2022, One Voice will be in Nîmes to get the decree allowing wolves to be killed in the towns of Chanaleilles, Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, and Lajo, where it is currently forbidden, urgently suspended. For the Association, who are very committed to their defence, the stakes are high and the urgency is real: wolves’ lives are at stake. The Lozère and Haute-Loire Prefects have published this decree that permits the authorisation of a wolf massacre, even if it puts the species in even more danger, rather than making farmers to face up to their responsibilities, particularly in correctly protecting herds.

As a reminder, wolves are a species protected by the Bern Convention as well as the 1992 ‘Habitats’ Directive. The latter has imposed an implementation of strict protection for wolves within the member states. France has therefore taken steps for this purpose, which appear in the Environmental Code. As always, exemptions to this protection can nevertheless be legally approved if conditions are met…

They still have to be! This is what we are calling into question in our application targeting the 26 October decree. For us, these irregularities may mean that the court recognises that there is a doubt on the legality of the decree.

For example, the Prefect merely says, with no further clarification, that the farmers concerned have implemented protection measures for herds002C without justifying that they are effective, while it is, however, a sine qua non condition for shooting permissions to be granted. The damage attributed to the wolves is debatable at the very least. Another essential circumstance required to authorise an exemption: a steady increase in shooting (scaring, then simple defence, then intense, and finally, ‘testing’ shots), without even having been implemented beforehand.

At the same time, there is a veritable urgency to suspend the decree because it has been in place for around fifteen days and the wolves’ deaths is by definition irreversible. Their species is protected and pastoral activities are not in danger. Furthermore, according to science, the efficacy of shooting to reduce damage is not proven.

Finally, when damage is present, the State compensates for it. Furthermore, we cannot forget that herds are destined for the abattoir by farmers, and that herding is no longer what it used to be. The practice is different, the number and type of animals have also evolved… not for the better, either for nature or for animals.

On 7 November 2022, One Voice therefore filed an emergency interim suspension proceeding which deals with the immediate effects of the decree, and an appeal for cancellation which deals with the legality of the decree. The emergency interim proceeding hearing is set for 15 November at the Nîmes Administrative Tribunal.

Once again we find ourselves in a situation where Prefects prefer a form of social harmony, sparing the sensitivity of farmers who can turn out to be violent when they do not win their case (we have seen this even recently) rather than respecting the principles of protecting an endangered species. The inter-prefectural decree that we are challenging is a dispensation of the existing law — which to us already does not seem sufficiently protective — allowing more wolves to be killed again and again, while the necessary conditions for its authorisation are not even met.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Urgent suspension of black grouse hunting in two out of three areas in the Hautes-Alpes!

Urgent suspension of black grouse hunting in two out of three areas in the Hautes-Alpes!
26.10.2022
Hautes-Alpes
Urgent suspension of black grouse hunting in two out of three areas in the Hautes-Alpes!
Wildlife

The Marseille Administrative Tribunal is urgently suspending black grouse hunting in two out of three bioclimatic areas in the Hautes-Alpes. The urgent applications judge admitted that the black grouse should be spared here, due to their vulnerability. Another victory for One Voice in favour of these individuals who already have such a hard time surviving without adding hunting to the mix…

In their ruling, the urgent applications judge started by rejecting the hunters’ objections regarding our arguments and then announced that there is the utmost urgency for black grouse. Finally, he decided to suspend hunting, which “compromises[…] conservation efforts of this species in its area of distribution”, namely, for him, in two of the three bioclimatic regions mentioned in the Hautes-Alpes Prefect’s decree. In the ‘Inner Northern Alps’, 37 black grouse were involved, and in the ‘Northern Pre-Alps’, 9 of them were targeted. In the third area, we will argue our point of view again when the case is judged for it to be cancelled. The LPO PACA and the SAPN-FNE Hautes-Alpes, who also attacked this decree, also received the same decision.

The decree must from now on be judged in substance for the entirety of the three zones concerned. The date is not yet set for this hearing, which must take place within several months. But it is already a very good victory, essential for the mountain Galliformes spared, who are added to those that the Association has already managed to save this year in Savoie, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

One Voice is and always will be in favour of a true hunting reform!

One Voice is and always will be in favour of a true hunting reform!
25.10.2022
France
One Voice is and always will be in favour of a true hunting reform!
Wildlife

More than eight in ten French people are in favour of a hunting ban two days a week including Sunday, and throughout the entirety of the school holidays (IPSOS/One Voice Survey, September 2022). Everywhere where One Voice has investigated in the hunting environment, alcohol has been present. Despite the ‘smoke and mirrors’ efforts by the Fédération nationale des chasseurs [National Federation of Hunters] to make its members aware of safety (like the reminder of 30° angles so as not to shoot your hunting neighbour), it is clear that they are insufficient to curb the deaths and injuries listed each year. The idea of training hunters in first aid is proof that there is nothing insignificant about this hobby.

According to Muriel Arnal, President of One Voice:

«Hunting is the only hobby that can kill those who do not practice it. The creation of a blood alcohol level offence in hunting would be a good start, but who would be in charge of carrying out the controls and what would the consequence be? We should not stop at the impact of setting it.»

A government won over by the hunting lobby

The Secretary of State in charge of Ecology, Bérangère Couillard, is launching a consultation this Tuesday on the areas of work regarding the safety of hunting. This is following a governmental policy very unfavourable towards free wildlife, at least since the first election of Emmanuel Macron, and a clear show in favour of hunters; and this is systematically ignoring legal decisions or devastating problems linked to climate chaos on the environment and its inhabitants. They also follow numerous manslaughters and injuries of varying severities on those who benefit from nature: local residents, cyclists, motorists, foragers, hikers…

The dramatic death of Morgan Keane who was shot while he was in his garden resulted in more than 122,000 signatures on the One Day One Hunter [Un jour un chasseur] petition on the Senate’s site. In line with our previous requests, it asked for safety in hunting, particularly through hunt-free days so that everyone can enjoy nature without risking their life. The Senate Committee welcomed us, like many of our partners, but submitted a report far from being on the level of what is at stake. For the umpteenth time, it takes waiting for humans to be a hunters’ target for the government to act against the privileges that they benefit from constantly.

On-the-ground expertise developed by One Voice on hunting

One Voice has been leading in-depth work on the world of hunting for many years. This whistle-blowing work is essential against a lobby who has connections with the President of the Republic’s office.

To show the reality ignored by non-hunters, their investigators have, among other things, infiltrated the gun hunting world, from hunting with hounds, penned hunting, or even underground fox and badger hunting with hounds, and shown what hunters do and say between them when they are not thinking about either monitoring or controls.

During these years of investigating, we have been witness to hunting parties where everyone was drinking wine in abundance at midday — and sometimes since the morning! — before multiple hunts. The statements made and recorded regarding safety are themselves just as alarming.

An animal defence association who has won many legal victories

One Voice has also filed numerous requests to have the prefectural and ministerial decrees cancelled that they consider to be abusive. Among their notable victories: the decree on glue-trapping, and the suspension and cancellations of the decrees on traditional hunting of small birds, alongside the LPO. But also the suspension of several decrees on mountain Galliformes and the additional period of digging out badgers, in particular.

This painstaking work has also made it possible, on a political level, to contribute to a law, albeit imperfect, on de-fencing in Sologne, and multiple law propositions.

French people have a favourable opinion of a radical hunting reform

One Voice had organised two successive annual joint marches for a radical reform of hunting before the pandemic hit the world in 2020.

The Association has supported around ten high-priority flagship measures for a radical reform of hunting, widely supported by around forty associations and several hundred thousands of people and validated by the opinions of French people (in several surveys by IPSOS in 2019, 2021, 2022).

It is obvious that One Voice is in favour of more measures to allow everyone to benefit from nature in peace. The minister does not seem closed off to the idea of no hunting on a Sunday. This will be a start. A limit on blood alcohol level before operating firearms identical to that in place before driving seems to be the minimum for us. It is high time! Provided that the controls and authorities are also there.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

One Voice will defend black grouse at the Marseille Administrative Tribunal on Monday 24 October 2022

One Voice will defend black grouse at the Marseille Administrative Tribunal on Monday 24 October 2022
23.10.2022
Hautes-Alpes
One Voice will defend black grouse at the Marseille Administrative Tribunal on Monday 24 October 2022
Wildlife

As their counterpart did in Savoie for three emblematic species of mountain Galliformes, the Hautes-Alpes Prefect has, in mid-September, issued a decree fixing the number of black grouse that can be hunted in the department. While the birds are facing difficulties unmatched in our era and the species is in decline, the hunters can add to the problem by slaughtering 270 of them in the context of their recreational hobby. The hunting season is open. We need to act urgently. One Voice will be at the hearing at the Marseille Administrative Tribunal on Monday 24 October 2022 to defend black grouse.

One Voice has filed an emergency interim proceeding with a view to getting the prefectural authorisation allowing these slaughters urgently suspended, as well as a fundamental appeal, because the Association is rebelling against the fact that hunters use animals as targets for pleasure with free rein from the State, knowing perfectly well that their shots do nothing but worsen an already disastrous situation for biodiversity.

Why are black grouse being shot down more when they are in decline?

In this specific case, black grouse are part of a protected species (under the Birds Directive on a European level and the Environmental Code in French law) because they are classified on a national level on the red list of threatened bird species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as ‘near-threatened’ and ‘vulnerable’ in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. They are protected for a reason!

The proof is that the Observatoire des Galliformes de Montagne (OGM), who measure the evolution of the strength of these individuals, clearly shows that the population has been in decline for more than twenty years. And that the reproduction of the species in 2022 and in previous years is insufficient in relation to authorised hunting acts.

How can we allow these animals to be killed for pleasure, derogating from several layers of protection put in place to guarantee their conservation, adding also to the difficulties that they must confront to reproduce? We must urgently prevent black grouse from continuing to be shot at!

Precedents that make you optimistic in Grenoble and Marseille

The Grenoble Administrative Tribunal has also agreed by urgently interrupting the Savoie decree application of 20 October relating in particular to black grouse (but also rock partridges and rock ptarmigans). Equally in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, around fifteen days before, the prefectural decrees had been suspended on the section concerning black grouse: we had been successful with regards to our voluntary intervention alongside the LPO.

We hope that it will be the same in the Hautes-Alpes following the 23 October hearing where we will be fighting once again alongside the LPO against prefectural services to help save the lives of hundreds of mountain birds.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Victory for mountain Galliformes: One Voice has had the Savoie Prefect’s decree suspended!

Victory for mountain Galliformes: One Voice has had the Savoie Prefect’s decree suspended!
22.10.2022
Savoie
Victory for mountain Galliformes: One Voice has had the Savoie Prefect’s decree suspended!
Wildlife

On 18 October, One Voice defended the black grouse, rock partridges, and rock ptarmigans at the Grenoble Administrative Tribunal. The judge has just ruled for an urgent suspension of the Savoie Prefect’s decree allowing them to be hunted up until 11 November 2022. Furthermore, the hunting acts on these emblematic birds were authorised on very significant quotas, respectively: 414, 190, and 60 individuals.

The fundamental decision, which will take place as a result of an upcoming hearing, the date of which we do not know yet, will determine the legality or illegality of the decree. Our lawyer, from Maitre Gossement’s office, will be representing us once again.
While waiting, no more individuals from these three species of mountain birds from the Savoie region can be killed by hunters in this context: the judge has suspended hunting for the three species: rock partridges, black grouse, and rock ptarmigans.

According to Muriel Arnal, Founding President of One Voice:

«It is a great satisfaction to know that less than one week of action by One Voice will allow the lives of hundreds of mountain birds to be saved. For how long can we put up with State representatives remaining deaf and blind to the cries of these birds that are disappearing? A disappearance amplified by the recreational hobby of hunters!»

The Grenoble urgent applications judge ruled that the urgent condition was fulfilled due to the irreversible character of the “destruction” of individuals from this threatened species and the fact that the hunting season was already open. In line with this idea, he also admitted that there was a serious doubt as to the legality of the decree and the decisions associated on the maximum number of animals allowed to be hunted, with regard to the Birds Directive and the Environmental Code, which could compromise conservation efforts undertaken regarding these birds.

The judge also noted that the 106 decisions made on 12 September 2022 by hunters to allocate annual individual hunting plans were acted upon prior to the Prefect’s decree authorising hunting of mountain Galliformes, while the decree of 15 September 2022 should have constituted the basis allowing these to be adopted.

Mountain Galliformes also defended in Pau

In Pau on 19 October, the Administrative Tribunal cancelled the Hautes-Pyrénées prefectural decree of 2 October 2020 that we had obtained a suspension for in October 2020. This one was relating to the hunting of western capercaillies and rock ptarmigans for the 2020-2021 season. It had been attacked by the FNE Midi-Pyrénées, FNE Hautes-Pyrénées, and Nature en Occitanie Associations, who One Voice joined as a voluntary participant.

As we have condemned for years, the prefectures thus seem to be the place for hunters to register their wishes… A public policy must come from a balanced decision, taking into account all of the parties involved, those defending animals and wildlife included. And certainly not to support the private interests of a small group who intend to practice their ‘hobby’ as they see fit: hunting. All of our futures depend on it.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Traditional hunting of larks: Victory! The State Council has urgently suspended the decrees

Traditional hunting of larks: Victory! The State Council has urgently suspended the decrees
21.10.2022
France
Traditional hunting of larks: Victory! The State Council has urgently suspended the decrees
Wildlife

One Voice and the LPO have defended the fate of larks that have been trapped and killed in the name of traditional hunting in the Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques Departments for the 2022-2023 hunting season. Our two associations filed emergency interim suspension proceedings on the Monday following the issue of the laws signed by the Ministry of the Ecological Transition. They defended birds tooth and nail before a ministry and hunters who did not know how to justify the pig-headedness of issuing new decrees that had scarcely been reformulated after the repeated cancellations and suspensions in preceding years.

There was an urgency to act and the State Council, consistent with past decisions, sided with our arguments. Field larks are on the list of birds classified on the IUCN Red List. And as the European Union Court of Justice recalled, France has not respected the European ‘Birds’ Directive of 30 November 2009 because it has contravened two exonerating criteria. On one hand, the absence of alternative techniques for trapping birds in particular, on the other, the fact that this technique allows the capture only of individuals of this species, in very limited numbers and without harm. The Ministry failed to demonstrate that the nets and cages were the only existing methods, that they only capture larks, or that they do not capture other bird species without killing any in the process…

The urgent applications judge at the State Council ruled that a “serious doubt” existed on the legality of the 2022 decrees challenged by One Voice and the LPO, and ordered them to be suspended immediately, from the day after the hearing.

«We come back here to the State Council each year, we would like this to be the last. And when I think about nature and the shared heritage of future generations, I have a dream, which should not be one, that the Ministry of Ecology will guarantee the protection of birds and biodiversity. And that their primary concern will not be to protect a hobby which is nothing other than that: a recreational hobby as we have heard during the hearing. Birds are disappearing and potentially there are cultural elements, but in that case, it should be the Ministry of Culture who must face us. Here it is about the Ministry of Ecology. It should be there to serve in protecting biodiversity.»

Muriel Arnal, President of One Voice

When will the Ministry of Ecology stop delivering birds, whose species is disappearing through our own faults, to hunters, all while daring to talk about conservation and daring to say that they are worried about biodiversity? When will those who govern us respect the highest decisions of the administrative legal courts in France? After the cancellations of the 2018 to 2020 decrees and the suspension of the 2021 and 2022 ones, we hope that this time the Ministry of Ecology will give into it.

The hearing regarding the cancellation of the suspended decrees of 2021 is set for Monday 24 October; we will be there for the birds.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

In Corrèze, the prefectural decree on badger digging was illegal

In Corrèze, the prefectural decree on badger digging was illegal
18.10.2022
Corrèze
In Corrèze, the prefectural decree on badger digging was illegal
Wildlife

Clear victory for One Voice: the Administrative Tribunal has just decided on 13 October to cancel the prefectural decree from May 2022 — already suspended — in Corrèze, authorising an additional period of underground badger hunting with hounds. This decree was therefore illegal.

This is good news that confirms the suspension of the decree obtained urgently by One Voice just after it being issued and allowing the lives of numerous badgers and their young to be saved. The court revealed multiple illegalities.

The non-transparency of the presentation note

Firstly on the style: the presentation note accompanying the decree project during the public consultation did not detail either the reasons leading to the additional period of underground badger hunting with hounds being authorised or give local data on badgers. The court considered that the violation of this article in the Environmental Code deprived the public, and particularly associations for environmental protection, of a guarantee.

The Commission in charge of evaluating the consequences for animals was misinformed

Before any issuing of a decree, the National Commission for Hunting and Wildlife must be summoned according to the rules which have not been followed to the letter in this case. Not only have its members not had access to documents that must be sent to them to study the decree project sufficiently ahead of the meeting, but these documents were not all together! Particularly, they had no knowledge of the “decree project, the dates of this additional period, or the estimates of the badger population in the department or, to a greater extent, the effects that an extension on the hunting season was likely to have on the presence of the species in the Corrèze Department.” (Extract from the ruling.)

The casual nature of arguments put forward by the Prefecture

Finally and in substance, the court ruled that the Prefect had based their decision on the occasional damage to agricultural produce that was not established, and that the survival of the young as well as the potential presence of other animals in the setts should be taken into account, something that the Prefect had not done.

«The additional period for hunting badgers thus opens opportunities to kill young animals that are not yet weaned or starting a mixed diet. Furthermore, the significant number of secondary setts dug by badgers allows other animals to use them for their own needs. Yet the Corrèze Prefect has not matched their decision with any particular requirements to avoid the destruction of either the young badgers while the demographic growth of this animal is weak, or the destruction of other species.»

Extract from the ruling.

We are in complete agreement with the court!

We have filed numerous emergency interim proceedings and appeals this year to try to get the additional periods of underground badger hunting with hounds suspended and cancelled alongside our partners.

To support our plea to protect badgers, sign our petition!

Updated 21 October 2022: the two occurrences of the term “judgement order” have been replaced by the more accurate “ruling”.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice