The Role of The I.A.F.

As an international non-government organisation, the constitutional objectives of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey 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.

The IAF currently federates 63 falconry clubs from 48 countries.

All Member Organisations have subscribed to these constitutional objectives of the association. The association is managed by the President, assisted by two Vice-Presidents and an Advisory Committee of 12 members. Three of these advisors are professional biologists. This allows the IAF to take decisions or make recommendations within the context of sustainable use of wildlife.

Major events in the life of the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey :

1968 - Founded on 9 April in Zweibrücken Hof, Düsseldorf.
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.
1975 - Sponsored ICBP first World Conference on Birds of Prey.
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.
1980 - Represents: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland.
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 - Granted observer status in the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention at the Council of Europe.
1990 - Now represents:Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, USA-Alaska, Zimbabwe.
1995 - Started sponsoring 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" adopted to simplify international movement of trained raptors.
2000 - Now represents: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia,Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary,Kazakhstan, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,Lithuania,Mexico,Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Tunisia,Turkmenistan, United States of America, Zimbabwe.