Hunting is a traditional activity practiced around the world either for recreation or for subsistence. In its many different forms, hunting plays important social, cultural and economic roles within society and has both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity. Development of sustainable practices require an integrated approach from social, economic and natural sciences, building on both academic and experience based knowledge (see also http://fp7hunt.net).

In this conference, we will explore the potential for sustainable use of biodiversity by focusing on an assessment of the interaction between social, cultural, economic and ecological values and impacts of hunting. Finally, we will discuss how these multidisciplinary results should be taken into account when designing policy, including the future EU policy on hunting and biodiversity conservation.

Topics addressed will include, among others:

- Cultural importance of hunting in different contexts

- Institutional aspects of hunting and game management

- Economic impacts of different hunting strategies

- Relationships between hunting management and biodiversity

- Examples of studies integrating different approaches

-Barriers and limitations of current policy for integrating multifunctional approaches to hunting

Invited speakers include:

·Angus Middleton (FACE- Fédération des Associations de Chasse et Conservation de la Faune Sauvage de l´UE)

·Jon Swenson (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)

·Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka (Madagasikara Voakajy)

·Steve Redpath (Aberdeen Centre of Environmetal Sustaniability, ACES)

·Djuro Huber (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croacia)

·Beatriz Arroyo (IREC)