IAF September 2019 eBulletin
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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
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ADIHEX 2019
Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) is considered to be the most popular exhibition of hunting, equestrian and heritage conservation, in the Gulf, with about one-third of its extensive exhibition space dedicated to falconry. ADIHEX is a government initiative that aims primarily to promote Sustainable Hunting, Environmental and Cultural Heritage and its theme for this year was "The Year of Tolerance ... Serving the Environment - a message of tolerance to the future of mankind."
ADIHEX has been running since 2003 and the 2019 edition was its first year under the management of the Emirates Falconers' Club, the IAF Member Organization in the UAE.
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From a falconer's point of view, this is one of the best places to view equipment, high-end and budget artisan-made falconry furniture, the latest in GPS and telemetry, incubators and a wealth of other exiting paraphernalia. UAE was the first country in the region to phase out the use of wild-taken falcons and this is reflected in a large number of European and local breeding establishments represented in the exhibition, selling the year's crop of high-quality falcons, both on their individual stands and display pavilions and in the auction, held each day in the exhibition hall. This was the first time such an auction was held and its success means it should become a regular feature.
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In addition to the exhibition, ADIHEX held conference workshops over the course of the 5-day premier learning platform, free-to-attend workshops, panel discussions and case studies to anyone attending. These included events on Equine Rescue by the Dhabian Equestrian Club, Animal Rescue and Adoption Initiatives and a panel of prominent women falconers presenting on and discussing women in falconry.
IAF was particularly pleased to organize a Joint Workshop Against Illegal Trade in Birds of Prey. Click to see the names of speakers and presentation topics.
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Joint Workshop Against Illegal Trade in Birds of Prey
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IAF put together, in collaboration with the ADIHEX organizers, the Emirates Falconers’ Club, and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation. Also taking part were speakers from the IUCN; the CMS and Bern Convention Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking & Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean; the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, Caucasus & Central Asia (OSME); Birdlife International (Middle East region), the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, Jordan; FACE and scientists/conservation experts from the UK, Russia, Mongolia and Hungary.
The day-long workshop was opened by H.E. Dr. Thani Ahmed Alzeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment for the UAE and by H.E. Majed Al Mansouri, President of the IAF, who began his speech with:
"The illegal trade in birds of prey is one of the greatest threat to the survival of some of these iconic bird species. Conservationists and devotees of falconry agree on the necessity of stamping out this trade. This workshop will bring together top experts in the field to discuss the progress being made in clamping down on the illegal trade and the challenges that still lie ahead."
The first session of the workshop was chaired by Adrian Lombard, former IAF President, who is now Co-Chair of the Thematic Group on the Sustainable Use and Management of Eco-Systems of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN.
Presentations in this session attempted to show the extent of the problem, although the speakers were all unable to offer accurate figures, due to the clandestine nature of the activity. It was also clearly seen that, in the case of saker falcons, electrocution is at least as big a threat to the population as is the illegal trade, while pay-off from falconer sponsored conservation activities more than compensates for the legal trade. See video.
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The afternoon session, chaired by Dr. David Scallan, Director-General of FACE, the Federation of European hunters, began with a report from Janusz Sielicki, a member of the Steering Committee of EURAPMON, Research and Monitoring for and with Raptors in Europe, on the effects of illegal and legal trade in birds of prey on their populations.
The importance of government, conservationists and falconers joining forces to stop illegal trapping, was stressed by several speakers. Veterinary research from the UK, indicated that if welfare issues associated with illegal trade can be addressed, the numbers needed to supply demand would be greatly reduced.
It was generally agreed that the worst illegal activities are in areas where even governments have less control, for example in war-zones and remote mountain areas, as well as corrupted local authorities. Making more and more laws has little effect, if they cannot be enforced. A better approach is to work with governments and international organizations to promote community-based legal and sustainable trade, based on pre-determined, scientifically evaluated, harvestable numbers. In other words, traditional trapping in small numbers, which has been sustainable since the dawn of falconry. If we can work towards this we will have the way to conserve falcons and support local communities economically.
Please follow this link to read the statement formulated at the end of the workshop sessions
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IAF Vice-president signs letter to the journal "Science"
Falconers have always been pioneers in conservation. Sustainable use is a core of falconry and sustainable hunting is one of the most powerful tools for the conservation of ecosystems; we cannot save the species without saving its ecosystem.
Following recent controversy over the acceptability of trophy hunting, an open letter to "Science" Journal was signed by 133 specialists, including Janusz Sielicki, IAF Vicepresident for Europe Africa and Oceania. The signatories include top scientists and conservation specialists who are concerned that attitudes and laws are being influenced more by emotion than by actual science.
Please follow this link to a BBC article about the letter.
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His Excellency Dr. Awadh Al Saleh, Advisor for International Cultural Cooperation, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, pushed the button to launch an updated version of www.sakernet.org, the online portal which was the first flagship project of the CMS Raptors MoU Saker Global Action Plan. It is an IAF project.
IAF is happy to continue funding and running this valuable resource, a multilingual website in all the languages of the saker's range, which collects information from stakeholders in each of the range states. The success of Sakernet prompted IAF to launch other multilingual portals, Perdixnet for biodiversity in Europe and AmFalCon to recognize the pioneering contributions made by falconers to the conservation of raptors.
These multilingual portals were developed with support from different partners, including the IUCN Sustainable Use and Management of Ecosystems Group (SUME) and European Sustainable Use Specialists Group (ESUSG).
IAF is proposing a motion (which has gained considerable support) at the IUCN World Conservation Congress to support language diversity engendered by Commission volunteers. To promote the Motion IAF, together with SUME, has proposed a side event at the congress.
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Power lines are killing raptors in Spain at alarming rate
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IAF has been highlighting the danger posed to raptor populations by powerlines for several years, concentrating on Central Asia where falconer led projects are mitigating dangerous lines. However, in Europe, Spain's Environment and Urban Planning Department's prosecutor, Antonio Vercher, is urging regional authorities to do more to prevent birds colliding with power lines. Follow link to read more.
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For further information and to register to attend the IAF Council of Delegates Meeting (delegates, official club representatives and invited observers) please complete the online form. For information on registering for the AECCA hunting and social events, in the evenings and on the hunting days, please click here.
Registration deadline is September 22nd. This is also the deadline for the hotel discount code use.
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On the 16th of November 2019 we will celebrate the 7th edition of World Falconry Day (WFD). Each year, we invite you to celebrate the inscription of falconry as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
All individuals, clubs and organizations are welcome to participate and use the WFD logo, irrespective of membership of the IAF. The only important consideration is that the activity should be designed to develop a good image of falconry at a local and global level. You can download the WFD logo from the IAF website If you wish, and your activity can be part of the official IAF programme and may subsequently be publicized internationally. To arrange this, please send your proposal to wfd@iaf.org.
The Education Working Group is making a request for interested falconers, clubs and falconry organizations to visit a local school in their area with their birds of prey to celebrate the anniversary of falconry’s inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Aim of the school visit ;
- To explain what falconry is to the young generation
- To explain the meaning of cultural heritage
- To give students the opportunity to see a raptor used for falconry
- To inform students and teachers where they can learn more about falconry in their local area
- To give schools the opportunity to join the IAF Schools Links Programme
If you are interested in visiting a school to celebrate WFD please contact education@iaf.org We will provide you with logo, letter to headteacher, activities for children and PowerPoint on falconry and cultural heritage. Proposals will be evaluated by the members of the IAF WFD working group. Approved proposals will be listed on the IAF website, and can then use the actual logo of the IAF in promoting the event. Thank you for helping World Falconry Day by sharing this message wherever you consider appropriate.
IAF Education Working Group
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2019 Journal available from webstore
The 2019 IAF International Journal of Falconry is available from our webstore at https://www.freewebstore.org/falconline
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Individual Subscribers
Individual Subscribers assist IAF financially, there are a number of options beiginning at €30. They receive a copy of the annual International Journal of Falconry (see above) and can attend the Council of Delegates Meetings of IAF, where they have automatic Observer status. Please click on the green button.
They receive log-in details to the IAF members page on www.iaf.org to access areas of the site not open to non-IAF.
A new page for donations is now open and member organizations, non members and individual subscribers a can all can make donations to specific projects in which IAF is directly involved: .General purposes, DOD's, Saker Falcons, Preventing Electrocutions, Pedix Portal, Schools Links Project and Vultures
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