IAF AECCA

Opening remarks and EU Nature Restoration Regulation segment

The meeting was opened with welcoming remarks by IAF President Mark Upton and Dr. Michael Greshake, Chair of the Biodiversity Working Group and IAF Vice President for Europe. Both emphasized the urgency of halting biodiversity loss and tackling climate change, underlining the EU Nature Restoration Regulation as a key opportunity to reverse ongoing environmental degradation. They also expressed concern about limited public awareness and political momentum, calling for continued advocacy and communication from civil society and the falconry community.

The first presentation was delivered by Ariel Brunner, Senior Head of Policy at BirdLife Europe and Central Asia. Mr. Brunner gave an overview of the regulatory and political context surrounding the NRR, identifying both the challenges and opportunities associated with its implementation. He highlighted the importance of political will, coalition-building, and pressure from civil society to ensure that restoration objectives are translated into effective national actions. His presentation sparked an engaged exchange with attendees, many of whom echoed the need to build networks and alliances to support regulatory uptake.

Moderating the session, IAF CEO Julian Mühle expanded on the legal framework of the NRR, describing it as a major legislative milestone in EU conservation efforts.

He explained the law's structured targets for restoring ecosystems, including terrestrial, coastal, freshwater, and urban ecosystems, and noted that success will depend on coordinated national implementation. He emphasized the importance of engaging rural stakeholders and countering misinformation, particularly as the regulation faces opposition by some actors.

The moderator then introduced Valentina Siddi from FACE (the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation), who presented a comprehensive breakdown of the Regulation's content. She underscored the law's introduction of quantitative, time-bound targets that had been missing from previous EU directives, including clear restoration obligations for agricultural landscapes. She highlighted the importance of habitat mapping and accurate data for reporting and discussed the need for both public and private financing mechanisms. Mrs. Siddi also stressed that success would require meaningful collaboration among hunters, falconers, farmers, and environmental authorities. A short discussion followed, with a representative of the German IAF member organization Deutscher Falkenorden contributing practical examples of cooperation with land users at the national level.

The final speaker in the mornings session, Professor Robert Kenward, delivered a detailed historical and strategic overview of falconry's role in conservation. He traced the evolution of modern falconry from a restoration-driven activity in the 1970s when raptor populations were facing a collapse caused by the thinking of eggshells due to DDT to it being embedded in broader sustainability goals and multinational environmental agreements and fora. Professor Kenward stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration, presenting tools such as decision-support systems and networking platforms developed to foster global-with-local conservation partnerships. He reiterated that falconers, as trusted actors in rural areas, are uniquely positioned to facilitate cooperation among user groups, policymakers, and researchers. His presentation closed the morning session.

Farmland Biodiversity, Project Results, and Field Lessons

The afternoon opened with a presentation by Dr. Francis Buner of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), who shared the outcomes and key findings of the North Sea Interreg PARTRIDGE Project (2016–2023). The project demonstrated how agri-environment schemes and landscape-level planning can significantly boost farmland biodiversity. Dr. Buner explained how the initiative increased habitat quality and quantity across 10 demonstration sites in Western Europe, and how it influenced policy and land management practices. He emphasized the value of cross-border cooperation, technical advice, and targeted communications in promoting ecological recovery.

Next, Dr. Julie Ewald introduced the ProCoast Horizon Project, a pan-European initiative focused on coastal ecosystem restoration. The project includes 10 case studies and integrates community involvement with change management frameworks, notably Theory U and Kotter's eight-step model. Dr. Ewald emphasized how empowering local communities and promoting adaptive strategies can help achieve long-term restoration goals in dynamic coastal environments.

Dr. Eckhard Gottschalk then presented an overview of the German wide Partridge project (2023–2029) which aims to conserve grey partridges and farmland birds across 10 large rural areas. The project implements conservation measures on cropland and involves close collaboration with farmers and regional authorities. Dr. Gottschalk highlighted barriers such as funding shortages and uneven adoption of agri-environmental schemes across German federal states, but noted positive results where local engagement was strong.

National Updates, Case Studies, and the Importance of Engagement

The second part of the afternoon was dedicated to national updates, case files, and best practice examples.

Janusz Sielicki, Chair of the IAF Conservation Portfolio, presented interim results from a survey conducted under the CMS Raptors MOU. The survey explores trends in the use and conservation of the Saker Falcon, highlighting regional differences in falconry practices and threats such as electrocution. He encouraged national associations to continue submitting data, which will be instrumental in improving conservation outcomes and advocacy strategies.

Tomas Leskovjan (Czech Republic), delegate of the Czech Falconers Club and an active farmer and falconer with three decades of experience, shared practical insights into agro-environmental measures and the challenges of implementation. He highlighted the rigidity of EU agricultural subsidies and the skepticism of some large-scale farmers toward ecological practices. Mr. Leskovjan presented a series of field-tested measures—such as seed-rich margins, organic rotation, and the use of foster parent birds for rearing partridges and pheasants—that have proven effective. He also called for better support systems and improved communication with farmers.

Kai Schmid (Germany), delegate of the Deutscher Falkenorden provided an update on the growing number of regional initiatives focused on grey partridge conservation and the creation of a conservation fund for DFO club members. He emphasized the importance of structured engagement with government bodies, particularly through the Aktionsforum Natur (AFN - Forum for Nature Conservation and Hunting).

Christophe Kimmel (France), delegate of ANFA reported on the state of biodiversity policy, noting ongoing challenges with securing consistent funding and collecting ecological data. Nevertheless, he pointed to recent opportunities emerging under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and stressed the need for coordinated EU-wide efforts.

Dr. Panagiotis Azmanis of the Association of Hellenic Falconers joined online and delivered an inspiring update on AHF's multi-faceted work. This includes raptor rehabilitation, legal advocacy, and environmental education. He showcased successful conservation projects like the Lanner Falcon recovery effort in Greece and highlighted the role of falconers as citizen scientists and local conservation leaders.

The meeting concluded with a pre-recorded presentation from Dan Cecchini (United States) of the North American Grouse Partnership, offering a transatlantic perspective on habitat-based conservation and science-driven collaboration. His message focused on habitat preservation, data-driven strategies, and policy advocacy rooted in partnerships with private landowners and hunting organizations.

Concluding Reflections

The meeting provided a broad platform for exchanging expertise, perspectives, and challenges related to nature restoration and biodiversity management. Across all sessions, several key themes emerged: the necessity of inclusive governance, the challenge of translating legislative goals into practical, field-level action, and the vital role of stakeholder trust and long-term cooperation.

Falconers were repeatedly recognized not only as users of biodiversity, but as potential leaders in its conservation. Their position at the intersection of traditional practice and modern ecological stewardship gives them a unique role to play in bridging the gap between regulatory frameworks and everyday land use, even when local conditions vary, as the strategies for achieving restoration and sustainable land use share many core principles.

For national clubs and associations, the takeaways are clear: continued engagement with both EU and national processes is essential. Contributing field data, sharing best practices, and building partnerships with farmers, hunters, scientists, and policymakers will help ensure that restoration targets are realistic, grounded, and achievable. As the Nature Restoration Regulation moves from adoption to implementation, the contribution of the falconry community will remain not only relevant, but essential to its success.

If you are interested in participating as a member or an observer to the IAF Biodiversity WG, please contact us via greshake@iaf.org and muehle@iaf.org, we look forward to hearing from you.