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| International Association of Falconers | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Association of Falconers |
| Formation | 1968 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Conservation, promotion of falconry, research |
| Headquarters | Europe |
| Region served | Global |
| Membership | National and regional falconry organisations, individual falconers |
International Association of Falconers is an international non-profit federation that links national and regional falconry organizations to promote the practice, conservation, and scientific study of raptors. The association coordinates between practitioners, conservation bodies, cultural institutions, and governmental agencies to protect species and traditional practices across continents. It has engaged with major environmental conventions, national ministries, and sporting bodies to represent falconry interests in policy, research, and education.
The association emerged in the late 20th century as falconry communities across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania sought coordinated representation following earlier gatherings in cities such as Paris, London, and Rome. Founding meetings involved representatives from organizations including the British Falconers' Club, Société Française de Fauconnerie, Federation of European Falconers, and the North American Falconers Association, alongside delegations from countries like Spain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and France. Early engagement brought the association into contact with international bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Over subsequent decades the association worked with conservationists from the Raptor Research Foundation, cultural scholars from the Smithsonian Institution, and policy experts connected to the European Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to navigate regulatory frameworks affecting raptors. Prominent falconers and naturalists linked to its history include figures associated with institutions like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the British Museum, and universities such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.
Membership comprises national federations, regional clubs, and individual professionals from countries including United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Governance features an elected council and executive officers modeled after structures used by organizations such as BirdLife International, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation. Committees mirror working groups in bodies like the IUCN Raptors Specialist Group, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and the Global Environment Facility, facilitating liaison with national authorities such as the Ministry of Environment (France), the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Ministry of Agriculture (Japan). The association's statutes and membership criteria reflect precedents set by groups like the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Conservation Union.
Core objectives align with conservation organizations like the Raptor Research Foundation and heritage institutions such as the British Museum to preserve species and cultural practices. Activities include promoting ethical standards comparable to codes from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and accreditation schemes used by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the American Falconry Association. The association facilitates exchange programs with universities such as Cornell University, University of California, Davis, University of British Columbia, and Australian National University to support veterinary research and raptor husbandry. It organizes collaborative initiatives modeled on partnerships like those between the Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wildlife Fund and works with museums and cultural bodies including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, and the Pergamon Museum to highlight falconry heritage.
Conservation projects have involved coordination with the IUCN Red List, the Raptor Research Foundation, and national agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the South African Department of Environment. Research collaborations have linked academic centers including Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Cambridge, and the Max Planck Society on topics from migration studied along flyways like the East Atlantic Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway to contamination monitoring aligned with programs by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. Species-specific initiatives referenced partnerships similar to conservation work for peregrine falcon, saker falcon, gyrfalcon, common buzzard, red-tailed hawk, harris's hawk, and golden eagle undertaken with organizations such as the Raptor Conservation Foundation and national parks like Yellowstone National Park and Serengeti National Park.
The association engages in policy advocacy with multilateral frameworks including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regional regulatory bodies like the European Commission and national legislatures such as the United States Congress. It provides expert input to agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK), the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and the Ministry of Environment (Spain) on permits, captive breeding, and reintroduction protocols. The association has submitted position papers drawing on precedents from legal instruments like the Bern Convention, the Bonn Convention, and national statutes modeled on wildlife codes in countries such as Canada, Germany, and France.
The association organizes international symposia, training workshops, and cultural festivals that echo gatherings held by the World Conservation Congress and academic conferences hosted by institutions such as Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian Institution. Annual meetings and congresses have been held in cities like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Madrid, Rome, Istanbul, Muscat, and Cairo with participation from delegations representing the United Arab Emirates Falconers Club, the Qatar Falconers Club, the Spanish Royal Falconry Federation, and the Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation. Educational outreach includes curricula developed with veterinary schools at Royal Veterinary College (London), Colorado State University, and University of Sydney, and public exhibitions held in partnership with museums such as the Natural History Museum, London and the American Museum of Natural History.
Regional networks and member organizations include the British Falconers' Club, the Spanish Royal Falconry Federation, the Federation of German Falconers, the Emirates Falconers' Club, the Qatar Falconers Club, the Kuwait Falconry Club, the Japan Falconers Club, the Korean Falconry Association, the Australian Hawking Club, the New Zealand Falconry Association, the North American Falconers Association, the Mexican Falconry Association, the South African Falconry Association, the Egyptian Falconry Association, and numerous provincial and municipal clubs across regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia, Bavaria, Saxony, Quebec, Ontario, Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, and New South Wales. The association liaises with conservation organizations including BirdLife International, the Raptor Research Foundation, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and local NGOs such as the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon and the African Wildlife Foundation to coordinate regional conservation, training, and cultural heritage projects.
Category:Falconry organizations Category:Conservation organizations