The plenary session of the first Falcon Day International Forum, which took place on 10 September in Vladivostok on the first day of the 8^th Eastern Economic Forum, included a discussion of the measures that should be put in place to conserve birds of prey and combat poachers and regulate hatcheries and the commercial use of falcons. The session was dedicated to the ‘Conservation and Harmonious Use of Birds of Prey in Different Countries of the World’. The EEF is being organized by the Roscongress Foundation.

Session moderator Maria Morgun, chief editor of Live Planet TV and anchor and correspondent at the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, read out a welcoming address to Forum participants on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chair of the Falcon Day International Forum Organizing Committee Victoria Abramchenko.

“Representatives of government and business, scientists, experts, and foreign guests have gathered today in Vladivostok, on the eve of the Eastern Economic Forum, to discuss issues related to the conservation of Red Book falcons. I very much hope that dialogue among such a diverse group of professionals will be fruitful and serve for the benefit of these unique predators. Falcons are a national treasure. They have been our faithful friends and helpers for centuries. Traditional falconry has been carefully preserved across Russia and in countless other countries, many of whom are represented at the Falcon Day International Forum,” Abramchenko wrote in the welcoming address. 

Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov noted how important international cooperation was for conserving and developing the populations of birds of prey and touched on the need for projects such as the Kamchatka Falcon Center.

“Gyrfalcons, peregrines, and sakers are all in the Red Book, meaning any attempt to smuggle or sell them is a criminal offense. Russia cannot save gyrfalcons alone because they migrate to different countries. There is simply no way to establish an effective system of control and anti-poaching without international cooperation,” Ivanov said. 

President of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey His Excellency Majed Al Mansouri spoke of Russia’s central role in the conservation and development of predatory bird populations.

“Our main goal is to prepare falcons for life in the wild to keep them out of harm’s way. Many countries have united for the conservation of wildlife, and our work takes place at different levels. I would like to thank my friends from Russia who are a part of these efforts,” Al Mansouri said. 

The plenary session resulted in Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the UAE adopting a framework declaration of intentions for the conservation of the gyrfalcon. The parties agreed to develop related programmes, work together to prevent poaching and the illegal trade of the bird, and promote the socio-economic development of regions inhabited by nesting gyrfalcons. The countries also agreed to strengthen measures aimed at protecting the gyrfalcon population and its habitat by improving the scientific methodology used to study the bird populations and monitor and support the work of the organizations involved in research and education. Other agreements include the development of funding mechanisms for the long-term conservation of the gyrfalcon, possible expansion of existing protected areas, the creation of new ones, and support for hatcheries.

The plenary session was also attended by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Sergey Anoprienko, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic Kubat Kaseinov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Andrey Kim, and Governor of Kamchatka Territory Vladimir Solodov.