January 2024 eBulletin

Thanks to volunteer translators, this eBulletin is available in other languages. If you would like to take part, email muehle@iaf.org . If your language does not appear, we upload  late translations onto the Facebook page

Important note to delegates, to club representatives and to translators: please don't forget to forward this eBulletin to your club members and all the falconer you know, especially the many language versions, even if it is by a "share" on social media - you will magnify the falconer's voice!

2023 Council of Delegates Meeting in Kearney, Nebraska, USA

NAFA President Martin Geylense opening the 2023 IAF Council of Delegates Meeting, hosted in Kearney, Nebraska, USA, by the North American Falconers Association. President Geylense gave an enthusistic welcome to all present.

In an important side meeting, members of the NAFA Board met with members of the IAF Board and secretariat to discuss how both organisations work together and to plan a more intense future co-operation to the benefit of all falconers in the Americas and in the wider world.

Adrian Reuter retired from his position as IAF Vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, the first holder of this office, he completed a term of three years and presided over a period of rapid growth in falconry in the region. He has been IAF's specialist in CITES for many years and we hope he will continue with this work. He is succeeded by Dr. Fabian Zancocchia from Argentina.

Adrian received the 2023 IAF President's Award, presented here by Mark Upton on behalf of IAF President, H.E. Majed Al Mansouri. 

A custom-made hawking bag was commissioned by her friends and co-workers to present to Mme. Véronique Blontrock at this meeting, in celebration of her birthday and in recognition of all her work for falconry.

This personalised bag was made by artist and master-craftsman Milan Vuckovic, of Serbia, and featured a portrait of Véronique's Irish red-and-white setter, Aoife. The presentation at very the close of the meeting was an emotional one.

Above photos kindly lent by Dr.Keiya Nakajima

A Conference for Latin American and the Caribbean

A significant part and major highlight of the week's events was the IAF coordinated and NAFA hosted Conference: "International experiences, resources and tools for a responsible and sustainable falconry in Latin America: a forum to contribute on collaborative efforts to develop appropriate frameworks for the practice of falconry in the LAC region."

The forum included representatives from IAF member organisations and government officials from 10 latin American countries and was divided in 3 sessions. The 1st session offered a general view of falconry and the work NAFA and the IAF have done at the regional and global levels respectively and shared information on some tools and resources which are available and which could be useful in national efforts for the development of falconry.

The 2nd and 3rd sessions focused on country specific case studies presenting a variety of situations and challenges to explore potential solutions/next steps. The discussion and case studies which were presented are expected to be of use to other countries facing similar difficulties and problems.

We hope that this first forum of its kind helps to open new communication and collaboration channels, and defines some future actions to benefit falconry.

IAF would like to thank all the presenters, and especially NAFA and its leadership, which sponsored the in person attendance of a number of speakers, allowing them to have productive exchanges with other Latin American delegates, government officials and NAFA officers.

Agenda and further Information (English)

Agenda and further Information (Spanish)

As the sun set over the Nebraskan prairie on the last day of the event, a group from the IAF played traditional fanfares in the Central European ceremony of honouring the game. Many thanks to April Rice, Ralph Rogers and all at NAFA for organising this.

An IAFJagdhornbläsergruppe

Due to the success of the ceremony in Nebraska and the huge amount of enjoyment we experienced in the few weeks learning how to blow the jagdhorn, we would like to form a group to repeat this experience, and to join in with other horn-blowers at similar events, particularly with our friends in the European falconry clubs who already honour the game in this way and who can help us to play better!

We can hold online regular practice sessions as well as playing together when we meet at events. If you are interested, whether you are an expert or would like to start, please send an email to jagdhorn@iaf.org

Visit of Dong Seok Woo of the Korean Falconers Club to the museum

IAF Biodiversity Working Group at ANFA

A number of IAF Biodiversity WG members attended the annual ANFA (the national falconry club of France) meeting to discuss the work undertaken by IAF to improve biodiversity.

Biodiversity WG Chairman Michael Greshake presented on previous IAF initiatives  for Biodiversity and encouraged falconers in national falconry communities to get involved with conservation work - and especially to communicate this more broadly.

The presentation followed a very productive year for  IAF's Biodiversity WG, which included a meeting in Brussels, representations at European Institutions and allied NGOs events, and a conservation policy campaign.

For more information on recommendations to restore partridge populations check out the following report from the European North Sea Interreg Partridge Project.

For further information on IAF activities to conserve the emblematic grey partridge (Perdix perdix), click on this link.

If you are interested in participating in the Biodiversity WG, please email the IAF Secretariat via secretariat@iaf.org.

From the EU institutions - positive lists of mammals that may be kept in the EU

This issue also has implications outside of the EU, as we see the animal rights lobby in many countries pushing their governments more and more for restrictions on what animals can be kept in captivity. If such lists become law, as has happened in the Netherlands, then only animals on the official list may be kept. Any animal not mentioned may not be kept for hobby purposes. At the moment there are only positive lists for mammals, not birds, but IAF will continue to monitor the situation at EU level. These laws are put in place by individual countries; currently there are no plans for a pan-European Union List. Delegates and individual falconers are advised to be vigilant in their own countries and lobby when needed.

In a communication from the Commission, a draft text from a Member State (the Netherlands) on the decree on the list of pets (mammals) which can be kept for hobby purposes, the possible anomaly with legislation on the free movement of animals and free trade between member states was addressed.

"The present draft Decree provides for the establishment of what is known as the list of pets and animals kept for hobby purposes, also known as ‘positive list’. This implements Article 1.4(2), of the Animal Keepers Decree and Article 2.2(1) of the Animals Act, which states that only animals of designated species may be kept. Only animals of species included in this list may be kept in the Netherlands as pets or as livestock, or for any other purpose (under Article 2.2 of the Animals Act). The list identifies only species in respect of which scientific research has demonstrated that they are suitable to be kept by humans. 

Since it is only allowed to keep animals of designated species, there is a restriction on trading in animals of non-designated species. The establishment of a list of authorised animal species is therefore seen as a restriction on the free movement of goods. The EU Court of Justice has ruled that the protection of human and animal health and life is a legitimate aim of restricting the free movement of goods. 

So in the view of the Netherlands, the restriction is considered justified because it is necessary in the interests of protecting human and animal health and human life, and because it is proportionate to the objective pursued. A less far-reaching regulation, such as allowing the keeping of animals of those species under the application of husbandry rules, would not be an alternative, since it is not considered possible to determine in advance whether a keeper complies or is able to comply with any rules  to be established.

The keeping of animals not on the list is permitted in exceptional situations where the importance of keeping the animals outweighs the importance of protecting human and animal health and human life, such as emergencies involving animals in need.

43rd Standing Committee of the Bern Convention

In December, IAF representatives attended the 43rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention in Strasbourg, to represent the interests of falconers and to advocate for the conservation of birds of prey and falconers contributions to conservation through sustainable use.

The Bern Convention, formally known as the CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS is an instrument of the Council of Europe with 51 contracting parties. It protects European habitats and species by listing them on appendixes with varying degrees of protection. The  video is very informative about the Work of the Bern Convention.

IAF welcomes the significant increase in the ordinary budget of the Bern Convention as a result of the Reykjavik declaration:

“We consider the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the “Bern Convention”) a unique international instrument aimed at aligning national standards and practices in conserving wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats at pan-European level and beyond, providing the necessary tools to strengthen intergovernmental co-operation and giving an opportunity to civil society to engage with governments and bring to their attention concerns about threats to biodiversity and natural habitats and their detrimental consequences.” (Council of Europe Reykjavik Declaration)

A further notable development was the denunciation of the Bern Convention and subsequent withdrawal of it by Belarus which will come into force as of the 1st of April 2024. This year's Standing Committee also saw significant changes in the composition of the Bern Convention Secretariat.

Picture: Santiago Camarena - Delegate of AECCA to the IAF, - Rashad Allahverdiyev Delegate of Azerbaijan to the Bern Convention, Julian Mühle - IAF Secretariat, Merike Linnamägi - Chair of the Bern Convention Standing Committee.

World Falconry Day '23 and calendar 2024

November 16th holds profound significance as falconers worldwide came together in a celebration of World Falconry Day, recognising falconry as UNSCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Embracing diverse nationalities, speaking different languages, and representing varied religious and social backgrounds, we find ourselves united by a shared and common bond. Clubs across the globe orchestrated events that showcased the beauty of falconry while emphasising its vital role in education and conservation.

It goes beyond a mere exhibition of skills; it has became a nuanced opportunity to enlighten the public about the intricate connection between falconry as a hunting form and as a living cultural art. The 16th of November is a bridge between tradition and conservation and a a quiet reminder of the shared responsibility we bear in preserving and promoting a legacy well worth protecting.

Heartfelt thanks to each and every participant who contributed, shared, and cooperated in making this day a memorable one. Your contributions, whether big or small, have left an indelible mark emphasizing the importance of coming together to cherish and protect the art we hold dear. Together, we share experiences, stories, and insights, fortifying the bonds that unite falconers across the world.

Please find attached the IAF Calendar for 2024 via this link.

Falconers Support Local Communities

We are compiling a list of all activities that falconers do to support their local communities. This is very useful when we are talking to government agencies, conservation conventions and other NGOs, demonstrating to otherwise sceptical groups that falconers are a positive force in the environment. 

We can already quote falconers' involvement in major conservation efforts (see our Conservation Portal) and in Education, now we want to show the efforts made by falconry clubs and individuals at local level, such things as litter collecting days, wild-flower meadows, participating in local agricultural shows, arts-and-crafts events etc. all offer great opportunities for PR in local media, like a local newspaper or blog. All ideas welcome to info@iaf.org 

Individual Falconers Support the IAF

Dear friends of IAF, the IAF represents and safeguards falconry against threats and challenges internationally, and links together all its member falconry clubs throughout the world.

While primary membership of the IAF is for clubs, it is also possible to support the IAF as an individual subscriber. The cost 30 euro per year and affords the right to attend the annual Council of Delegates Meeting, to join IAF working groups, and to receive a copy of the yearly IAF Journal. Furthermore, it provides a way in which individuals may support the activities of the IAF financially at an affordable cost.

We encourage members of the falconry community to become individual subscribers to the IAF, and would like to request all of our member organisations to also encourage their members to support IAF in this manner. This will help to keep IAF membership dues for clubs at their current level, while allowing the IAF to continue its current activities on your behalf.

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