The second International Falcon Day Forum, dedicated to the conservation of rare species of birds of prey, creation of breeding centers, rehabilitation and reintroduction of Falconidae birds is being held in Vladivostok on September 3.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev noted that the event, held for the first time in 2023, will take the dialogue of world experts to a new level and help preserve unique species of the animal world.
"The [2023] event has generated considerable interest among the global expert community interested in exchanging experience in the conservation of rare species of birds of prey and maintaining the ancient traditions of falconry," he said.
Norilsk Nickel Vice President Andrey Grachev noted the company's contribution to programs for the study and conservation of rare and endangered animal species, which is part of the consolidated business approach to environmental responsibility.
In addition, the company has joined forces with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences to study the Arctic, conducting five major scientific expeditions, which was the first large-scale study of the Arctic since Soviet times, Grachev added. In addition to investing in regional research, the company also supports biodiversity research, closely cooperates with nature reserves, and has been studying, protecting and restoring the gyrfalcon population for the past 2 years.
"Over the period of 2022-2023, the company invested dozens of millions of rubles in the support and conservation of these birds. Before that, for 15 years in Russia, there was practically no systematic scientific research related to the gyrfalcon," Grachev noted.
"Nature knows no boundaries, and today it is important to unite governmental efforts to preserve rare Falconidae birds of prey, and especially the gyrfalcon, saker falcon and peregrine falcon," said Russian Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov. He recalled that at the first Falcon Day forum last year, Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the UAE signed a declaration of intent to preserve the gyrfalcon population. And at the beginning of this year Bahrain joined the cause.
"Work on restoring the falcon population is our priority, since we use these birds not only for hunting, but also for conservation purposes. We were able not only to make a great contribution to saving birds, but also to exchange cultural experience, getting acquainted with the rich Russian culture. The Kingdom of Bahrain makes a huge contribution to environmental protection, we would like to thank the Russian Federation, Roscongress and all those present, hoping for fruitful cooperation,” said Karim Salman Abdulkarim Radhi Alwan, Head of the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Oil and Environment of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
"The current conditions of external pressure are forcing businesses to restructure their strategies, and the state to reformat the practice of environmental protection measures. The basic values and national goals of Russia remain unchanged. These are the environmental modernization of our industry, a consistent reduction in the negative impact on the environment, the transition to greener technologies. All this is possible thanks to the interaction of the state, science and business," Grachev concluded.
Hélène Tarin, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
