The Sustainable Hunting Initiative (SHI) was launched in 2001 in order to address the controversy and confrontation between hunters and other bird conservationists by facilitating dialogue on issues raised by the interpretation of the Birds Directive. After several years of existence, the SHI has produced for instance the Guidance document on hunting under the Birds Directive
and in particular the FACE-BirdLife International Agreement on the Birds Directive in 2004.
Furthermore the SHI inspired projects where the partnership between the different stakeholders has been put into practice, as in the Awareness Raising on the Natura 2000 Network among users – in particular hunters project in 2006 lead by FACE, in partnership with ELO and with the participation of BirdLife International.

However, in many countries there is still little or no communication between conservation and hunting groups and in others there are strong disagreements.

IUCN carried out an assessment of the SHI and its implementation at the national and local levels. This was done in liaison with the BirdLife and FACE networks of national member organisations, and also by relying on the national members and partners of IUCN to give a balanced view.

The assessment of the Sustainable Hunting Initiative was undertaken between April and September 2008 using questionnaires, and making interviews.

The results will be published by the Commission, end of 2010.