IAF eBulletin for June 2020

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!

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage during covid19

A  letter from the UNESCO ICH

Dear IAF,

While the coronavirus has indeed created a lasting impact on the global healthcare systems and economy, we must also recognise and appreciate the pandemic's impact on communities practising the art of falconry. Across the globe, many other communities are dealing with the immediate effects of the COVID19 on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

For your information, please find attached my recent article, 'Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: Intellectual Property Rights and other Safeguarding Measures Amid Pandemics', which includes initiatives within the context of the COVID19 pandemic. 

I note that the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe is preparing a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on museums which will be finalised and available for sharing within the coming weeks. In the meantime, you may wish to review the findings of the recent survey conducted by the Network of European Museum Organisations on how the current state of pandemic has impacted museums budget and operations and how museums are coping . The results of the survey can be found here.

We also confirm that on 10 April 2020, we participated in the OECD webinar on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and museums: impact, innovations and planning for post-crisis. This webinar will be made available on the OECD Youtube page in due course after which time we will forward the link to you. 

We are at your disposal and would be happy to schedule a call to discuss similar initiatives and measures you may wish to introduce to cope with these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Benedetta Ubertazzi

EFFC Initiative to remediate bird mortality due to power lines:

The EFFC has been sucesfull in coordinating the collection of funds from a number of donors to modify power lines in two areas of Ávila Province in Castilla y León, Spain.

The total required amount of twenty thousand euros was obtained through generous donations from Deste Management (Netherlands), ASISA (Spain) and Schoenendoos (Netherlands).

The project is scheduled to commence this summer and be finished within a year, even with current COVID-19 restrictions. IAF would like to congratulate the EFFC on their hard work to make this project possible.

The modifications of power lines in these critical regions will greatly reduce the risk of electrocution to local raptors.

Contingency plan for 2020 Council Meeting

This year's meeting is still for scheduled the week of November 22nd, hosted by the North American Falconers' Association (NAFA). We still do not know how national and international travel restrictions due to the covid 19 pandemic will be relaxed by then, but we are assuming they will be difficult.

IAF is planning accordingly and will hold a Zoom Meeting (or similar) for delegates who are unable to attend, for whatever reason. Delegates still hoping to travel, if restrictions are lifted, must begin the visa application process right away. 

National delegates, wishing to make a report for this meeting, are requested to make a written report on activities of their clubs and falconers in their countries.

Steady Progress for Project Lugger

Project Lugger is a conservation project that IAF welcomed as a Supporting Member in 2018. It has made real strides forward this season with several eyass luggers being produced within the Project. Coupled to this, two large important raptor centres, one in Holland and one in the UK, have joined to help in education and captive breeding.
Producing youngsters is obviously a very big step forward. The first two years of the Project were spent gathering Luggers and fund raising to build breeding facilities or adapt existing ones. Real expectations of success are pinned on the 2021 season. However, a limited success was achieved this year with a total of six youngsters being produced. The Project overall learned a couple of very hard lessons to be noted for the future. The project has a very positive outlook for next season and several new groups have joined the project, including centres in Portugal, the Netherland, the UK and Greece.

Threats to birds of prey come from many directions, the two most obvious threats to lugger falconers are the loss of their main prey species over much of their range, the spiny-tailed lizard, which is being subjected to unsustainable levels of harvesting for traditional medicine, and the modern use of trapped luggers as barraq birds to trap larger falcons. Welfare issues in the luggers used in this way result in many deaths and the project's principle aim is to educate.

Please click on the button below to visit the Project Lugger website.

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