18 January 2024
The Kingdom of Bahrain has become the seventh country to join the
Declaration of Intent for the Conservation of the Gyrfalcon Population. The
document was adopted by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and
the UAE as part the Falcon Day International Forum, which was first held in
Vladivostok during the 8th Eastern Economic Forum. The event was
managed by the Roscongress Foundation.
The Kamchatka Falcon Centre was created in 2022 based on instructions
from Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement programmes for the
conservation of rare bird species and the development of international
cooperation in this regard. The breeding stock was provided by Russia’s Arab
partners. The project is a key component of the programme for breeding rare
birds and preserving biodiversity in the Far East. In addition, the centre
works to help implement joint international environmental projects, as well as
cultural and scientific exchanges that aim to strengthen diplomatic and trade
relations between countries that support the declaration. The centre has
already brought together some of the best international practices and works
closely with experts from Arab countries, whose delegations have repeatedly
come to Russia to exchange experience with local specialists.
“The development of joint projects with our Arab partners provides an
opportunity to strengthen friendly relations based on common interests and
values. One of these areas, of course, will be the development of the key
theses of the framework declaration on the conservation of the gyrfalcon
population and mutual support for projects that aim to preserve this bird
species and restore the traditions of falconry in Russia,” Adviser to the
Russian President Anton Kobyakov said.
Russia initiated the adoption of the declaration. The document promotes
the intensification of international cooperation to create mechanisms to
prevent poaching and illegal trade in rare birds. It identifies key areas of
work to preserve and increase the population of this rare bird of prey, whose
numbers are declining due to the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of
habitats, the depletion of food supply, poaching, and the illegal trafficking
of birds.