13 September 2024
Poaching remains one of the main
threats to the existence of falcon species, such as the gyrfalcon, peregrine
falcon, and saker falcon. These birds have been highly popular and cherished
for centuries in Arab countries and are also found across Europe, North
America, and Asia. As a result, countries are joining forces to prevent the
extinction of these unique species of birds of prey through international
cooperation. Companies are actively investing millions of roubles in the
protection of gyrfalcons, providing the necessary resources for their recovery.
Key measures for preserving their population include establishing falcon
breeding centres and nurseries and improving government policies by drawing on
international experience. These conclusions were reached by participants in the session entitled Nature Conservation
Diplomacy: Falcons – New Horizons for Cooperation, held as part of the Eastern
Economic Forum.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
The preservation of falcon populations is of special
significance to the peoples of Asia and Arab countries
“We would like to state that working on the
restoration of falcon populations is one of our priority activities, as we use
these birds for both hunting and protection,” Karim Salman Abdulkarim Radhi
Alwan, Head of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Oil and Environment
of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“My colleagues from Qatar and other countries
highlighted at this Forum the significant historical and cultural importance
these birds, including falcons and their varieties, hold for us. You know that
for us, they are our national pride,” Almutairi Mashari Badr, Representative of
the Rasis company LTD.
Countries are improving government policies and
regulations to protect falcon populations more effectively
“We have also created a special environmental
protection programme, in which we pay particular attention to the state
strategy for development and conservation. One of our initiatives was the
creation of nurseries that mimic natural conditions so that birds of prey and
other animals feel comfortable,” Abdulaziz Ahmad Al Mahmud, Deputy Minister of
Environment and Climate Change of the State of Qatar.
“A new government decree also provides for the
establishment of task forces composed of Ministry of Internal Affairs
personnel, law enforcement officers, national guards, and the Ministry of
Emergency Situations. Four government bodies will be involved in combating
poaching. This initiative aims to eradicate poaching,” Otabek Babamuradov,
Director of the Department for the Development of Ecotourism and Hunting,
Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the
Republic of Uzbekistan.
PROBLEMS
Poachers have a significant negative impact on the
decline of falcon populations
“The gyrfalcon is the largest bird of the falcon
family, and its population is in decline. The reason for this decline is quite
simple – poaching,” Sergey Anoprienko, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and
Environment of the Russian Federation.
“Over the past 35–40 years, the number of gyrfalcons
in Kamchatka has decreased by about two to three times and now stands at no
more than one thousand pairs. The decline is due to common poaching, with the
greatest threat coming from selective poaching of young white females, whose
proportion in the Kamchatka population has almost halved in the past two
decades,” Roman Vasilevsky, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Kamchatka
Territory.
“In the last 20 years, the population of gyrfalcons
and other falcon species in Russia has decreased threefold. This decline is
attributed not only to climate change but also, primarily, to human activities.
Colleagues have already mentioned the illegal capture of these birds,” Andrey
Grachev, Vice President for Federal and Regional Programs, Norilsk Nickel.
SOLUTIONS
Development and implementation of international
projects for the effective conservation of falcon populations
“Joint projects with Arab countries to restore falcon
populations, considering the royal status of these birds in the Middle East,
open up excellent prospects for establishing informal diplomatic dialogue
beyond the traditional spheres of energy, oil trade, and arms between Russia
and its Arab partners,” Roman Vasilevsky, Deputy Chairman of the Government of
the Kamchatka Territory.
“In cooperation with the Environment Agency of the
United Arab Emirates, from 2009 to 2024, 897 birds, including 572 peregrine
falcons and 325 sakers, were released into the wild in the Republic of
Kazakhstan,” Andrey
Kim, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for
Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the
Republic of Kazakhstan.
“I refer to a recent ministerial-level conference on
environmental issues initiated by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev. <…> At the conference, important agreements were reached,
including the intensification of regional conservation cooperation and the
development of a unified approach to addressing climate change issues.
<…> The CICA [Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures
in Asia] region spans a vast area from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean,
and from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean,” Kairat Sarybay, Secretary
General, Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measure in Asia
(CICA).
Establishment of nurseries and falcon breeding centres
“The launch of a pilot investment project for creating
an International Centre for the Reproduction and Conservation of Rare Large and
Predatory Birds in the area, aimed at the artificial breeding of the white
morph of the Eastern Siberian gyrfalcon, has become a landmark event and a
modern national-level conservation measure. <…> This initiative will
supply the Arab world’s markets with birds of prey adapted to captivity and
artificially created habitats, reducing demand for illegally captured birds.
With successful work by conservation authorities, this will minimize poaching
pressure on the natural population in Kamchatka,” Roman Vasilevsky, Deputy
Chairman of the Government of the Kamchatka Territory.
“A government decree signed in July of this year
provides numerous opportunities for the private sector to establish nurseries.
The decree includes the allocation of land plots, tax benefits, and subsidies
for those who create nurseries, particularly reintroduction centres. This also
applies to birds of prey. Currently, there is only one nursery operating in
Uzbekistan, but according to a new government decree, a new nursery is planned
to be established with direct investment of USD 5 million,” Otabek Babamuradov,
Director of the Department for the Development of Ecotourism and Hunting,
Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the
Republic of Uzbekistan.
*This is a translation of
material that was originally generated in Russian using artificial
intelligence.
For more information, visit the
Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical System at roscongress.org/en.
