Abu Dhabi Declaration on Saker Falcon Conservation

Abu Dhabi Declaration on Saker Falcon Conservation ABU DHABI, Sept. 24, 2003 (WAM)-- After thorough deliberations on various studies and research tabled on the agenda by the researchers, leaders and conservationists who participated at the Symposium on "Saker Falcon Status in the Range Countries", organized in Abu Dhabi, UAE on September 23, 2003 by the Environmental Research & Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), the following is the framed declaration by the participants: - Emphasizing the importance and validity of the Gulf, Arab and international concerns over the protection of the natural environment and biological diversity, and cognizant of the fact that falconry is an integral part of the culture and heritage identities of the Gulf region as evinced by the fact it has been practiced over the centuries by the people of this region in a manner that has been even-handed and consistent with their age-old morals and traditions that have been handed-down from one generation to the next, - Recognizing the fact that these morals have been derived from the noble tenets of Islam as well as from the Gulf-Arab values that are markedly sensitive to the need for sustainability of the species and natural habitats, - Appreciating the significant efforts made by the GCC countries to protect the natural environment, wildlife and biological diversity, in addition to the initiatives, cooperative projects, and efforts to coordinate regional and international endeavors to protect the avian habitats and re-integrate and monitor the wild population and other relevant areas, - Emphasizing the catastrophic decline of Saker in its population that push Saker to the brink of extinction, after reviewing results of researches and studies conducted by ERWDA and other concerned national and international organizations. - Realizing that the Saker population is suffering a dramatic decline and has therefore become extinct in many European and some Central Asian countries, with only a few remaining pockets of distributions in some of its range of countries, - Recognizing that Saker decline is attributed to unimaginative land use policy, poor and short sighted agriculture policy, unsustainable harvest levels at nest and also during autumn migration, thus pushing Saker to the brink of extinction, - Understanding the need to enhance cooperation at all levels of researches and policies to conserve falcons and carry out coordinated efforts by national and international organizations to study its population biology and conservation problems, - Citing the UAE Falcon Registration Scheme, particularly the issuance of a certificate in the form of a passport by the (CITES) Management Authorities of the UAE, and noting the fact that several countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have expressed interest in implementing a similar scheme to manage and control the hunting impacts on the falcons population in the wild, - And acknowledging that conserving the nature and protecting significant cultural heritage and legacy, hereby call for the following: Urge for the development of a national legal regulations to conserve falcons and to reorganize the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) legal framework, including Falcon Registration Scheme. -Recognition of the fact that achieving set goals require development of the ongoing monitoring of Saker populations in the wild. Steps to be taken to update the information on Saker falcon population trends by falcon hospitals and other national and international markets. -Invitation of the concerned range countries to an export quota based on scientific information that would be properly enforced. -Encouragement of the use of captive bred falcons. -Encouragement of falconers to import wild Saker falcons, only if they conform to the international standard regulations of (CITES) and follow the legal ways in the concerned countries. -Encouragement of export countries of Saker falcon to take necessary actions to implement relevant international conventions. -To consider social and economical dimensions on implementing management measures for the conservation of the Saker falcon. -Enhancing coordination of efforts to exchange information between exporting and importing countries of the Saker. -Encouragement of the GCC countries to establish falconer's clubs/ associations. -Encouraging media institutions to promote awareness programmes for the conservation of the Saker. WAM/OA 12 09 CCCCQQE