AS AN INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To represent falconry throughout the world. Falconry is the traditional sport of taking quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of trained birds of prey. It is a hunting art.

2. To preserve and encourage falconry within the context of sustainable use of wildlife.

3. To encourage conservation, the ecological and veterinary research on birds of prey and to promote, under scientific guidance, domestic propagation for falconry.

4. To develop, maintain and amend national and international laws, treaties and conventions to permit the pursuit and perpetuation of falconry.

5. To require the observation of falconry, hunting, conservation and welfare laws, regulations, traditions and culture with regard to the taking, import, export and keeping of birds of prey, the taking of quarry species and the right of access to land in the country concerned.

6. To promote and uphold a positive public image of falconry with specialist organisations which regulate or otherwise affect falconry.

SOME MAJOR EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE IAF:

1968 – Founded on 9 April in Zweibrücken Hof, Düsseldorf and  attended Conference of the ICBP

1969 – Joined Conseil International de la Chasse.

1970 – Became representative of falconry for International Council for Bird Preservation (now Birdlife International). Now represents: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland.  Attended the 15th World Conference of the ICBP.

1972 – At the 10th Conference of the European Section of ICBP, IAF is accorded its own separate status. A resolution prohibits trade in birds of prey except for “approved purposes”.

1975 – Sponsored ICBP first World Conference on Birds of Prey. Formulates resolutions to avert an international campaign to ban falconry.

1976 – IAF cooperates with ICBP in discussions on resolutions concerning trade in wildlife.

1977 – With British Falconers Club, held 3 day conference on”Bird of Prey Management Techniques” in Oxford; enabled incorporation of Falconry in EEC Birds Directive.

1981 – Held 3 day conference on “Understanding the Goshawk“.

1985 – After comments by IAF’s president the world’s largest raptor research conference resolved that “contributions of falconers have never been adequately acknowledged“.

1986 – IAF is granted observer status in the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention at Council of Europe.

1990 – Represents 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Alaska, Zimbabwe.

1995 –  IAF sponsors raptor conservation project in Belarus.

1996 –  Sponsored project on raptor demography in Kazakhstan. Helped found Conservation Action Network in USA. Became member of World Conservation Union (IUCN).

1997 – Proposal to CITES of “Falconry passport system” is adopted to simplify international movement of trained raptors.

2000 – IAF takes part in the World Conservation Congress in Amman where a resolution on sustainable use of wild raptors in falconry is adopted. IAF now represents  33 countries.

2005 – The IAF held its AGM in Opočno, Czech Republic. Belgian Ministry of Justice reviewed IAF Constitution. IAF was admitted as member of the CIC after a MoU. IAF participates in Abu Dhabi Symposium.

2006 – IAF held its AGM in Nebraska, USA. ORNIS survey reviews working of the Wild Birds Directive for the European Commission. IUCN Convention on Migratory Species required technical support on raptors and bustard resulting in a draft agreement on Asian Houbara and a MoU on conservation of migratory raptors in Africa and Eurasia.

2008 – Accredited as official advisory organisation to UNESCO ICH committee.

2009 – The new regulation allowing US falconers to harvest passage peregrine falcons. Falconry inscribed in the national inventory lists of cultural heritage in: Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Slovakia… IAF holds it’s AGM in the UK and participates in the Festival of Falconry. IAF contributed to the specialist meeting in Abu Dhabi on the Conservation of Saker Falcon.

2010 – Inscription of Falconry on the representative list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

2011 – IAF signs Raptors MoU of UNEP/CMS and gets a status of Collaborating Partner Organisation.

2012 – IAF is represented in the Saker Task Force of UNEP/CMS Raptors MoU

PRESIDENTS OF THE IAF

YEAR: President

• 1968: Jack Mavrogordato (UK)

• 1972: Otto Abensperg-Traun (Austria)

• 1975: Toni Lutz (Switzerland)

• 1978: Charles de Ganay (France)

• 1984: Christian de Coune (Belgium)

• 1998: Ferrante Pratesi (Italy)

• 2000: Patrick Morel (Belgium)

• 2006: Frank Bond (USA)

• 2013: Adrian Lombard (South Africa)

> 2018 H.E Majed Al Mansouri (United Arab Emirates)