London - The Emirates Falconers Club along with Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon al Nahyan, Chairman Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), and a VIP delegation from the Abu Dhabi Government, and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, have arrived in the United Kingdom to promote efforts to preserve falconry for future generations.
Several high-level meetings are due to be held with key international conservationists, scientists and policy makers.
The culmination of this weeks' meetings will be The International Festival of Falconry, taking place on the 14th and 15th of July, at Englefield Estate, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
The festival is the first event of its kind and will showcase falconry from 30 nations.
The festival itself is vital for raising awareness of the threats to falconry. For the UAE falconry is not a sport - it is part of Arab culture which goes back many thousands of years. The UAE is taking a lead and working hard to protect this culture. This festival is vital in raising awareness of these issues to an international audience.
Internationally the UAE is working with UNESCO for falconry to be accorded 'intangible cultural heritage' status across the globe.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi leading local, regional and international projects to preserve falconry for future generations.
H.E. Majid Al-Mansouri, secretary general of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and board member of the Emirates Falconers Club commented; "The UAE is the home of Arabian falconry. We are delighted to attend and support this festival, since falconry is part of our culture and identity, and we want to preserve it for future generations. This event is vital for raising awareness of the issues threatening falconry."
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About Arabian Falconry
Prior to the discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi, and before the formation of the UAE in 1971, falconry expeditions were used as a way for the sheikhs to tour their territory and keep in touch with their people.
They would hunt during the day, and a desert majlis, or council, would be held around the camp fire in the evening, when the Bedouins would come to pay their respects and raise with him any matters of concern.
Right now falconry across the globe is under threat. At a political level falconry is at risk from lack of understanding amongst politicians and decision makers. Urbanisation and environmental damage are harming the falcons' natural habitat; so called 'new falconers' who do not respect the art of falconry or the codes of practice are over-hunting and threatening the reputation of falconry.
About the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD)
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) is responsible for supporting the federal government in policy making, legislation, regulation and implementation of conservation and environmental initiatives.
Projects underway in the UAE to protect falconry include major conservation programmes to protect endangered species such as the houbara, the creation of nature reserves within the UAE and scientific research.
To date successes include:
- 8,000 captive-bred houbara, a species on the brink of extinction
- The announcement of an 87 square kilometre nature reserve
- 793 falcon passports issues under the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
About the International Festival of Falconry
The International Festival of Falconry is being held on the Englefield Estate, Berkshire on 14 - 15 July. It is a celebration of thousands of years of falconry across the globe. The event will bring together falconers from over 30 nations.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Falconry in Arabia parade, during which falconers from the UAE will showcase the traditional art of falconry, a living link to the UAE's beginnings.
A UAE village is set amongst trees in the deer park of the estate. Here visitors will meet real Arab falconers and UAE conservation experts amongst a setting of Bedouin tents, falcons, salukis and camels.
Over 10,000 visitors and the world's media are expected to witness the Falconry in Arabia display and experience the UAE village.
For more information and images please contact:
Justin Doherty
Tel: +971505382423
Luke Chauveau
Tel: +4479790054560
© Press Release 2007
