Abu dhabi: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the INPEX JODCO Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the conservation of raptor species and promote cultural collaboration between the UAE and Japan.
According to Emirates News Agency, the agreement builds upon a successful pilot project conducted in Japan between 2024 and 2025 and will expand efforts to protect falcons and other raptors across both nations through joint scientific research, habitat protection, and educational outreach. The MoU was signed during the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 by Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, and Hiroshi Fujii, Representative Director of the INPEX JODCO Foundation.
The signing marks a new phase in bilateral cooperation, bringing together Abu Dhabi's leadership in wildlife protection and Japan's advanced scientific expertise to address global biodiversity challenges while celebrating a deep respect for nature shared by both cultures. As part of the MoU, the partners will expand raptor research and conservation programmes in Japan and the UAE. Activities will include the installation of artificial nests equipped with monitoring cameras in Japan to study breeding behaviour, population dynamics, and habitat use.
In the UAE, the collaboration will leverage the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital's advanced expertise in avian medicine and scientific research to support the rehabilitation of peregrine falcons and other raptor species. It will also include specialised training for Japanese zoo staff, fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices in raptor care and conservation.
Dr. Al Dhaheri expressed her gratitude and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his continued support of EAD's efforts and initiatives to protect the environment, and for fostering local and international cooperation and partnerships that advance environmental protection and sustainability goals. She emphasized the partnership's role in connecting heritage, innovation, and shared respect for nature, highlighting the importance of raptors, especially falcons, as symbols of resilience and cultural identity for the UAE.
Hiroshi Fujii acknowledged the significance of the collaboration, noting that the Raptor Conservation Project reflects a deep commitment to advancing environmental research while fostering mutual understanding between Japan and the UAE. He emphasized the project's potential to expand conservation efforts, share scientific insights, and celebrate cultural heritage.
The project aims to generate data to inform species management guidelines, improve understanding of habitat conditions, population status, and breeding patterns, and enhance public awareness through school programmes, exhibitions, and community engagement. It also incorporates cultural elements that highlight the importance of falconry in Emirati heritage, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Japan's cultural reverence for harmony with nature.
EAD, through the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme (SZFRP), has successfully returned 2,355 falcons, including both Saker and Peregrine falcons, to the wild within their natural migration ranges since the programme's inception. Recognised as one of the world's leading initiatives for restoring endangered wild species, the programme reflects the enduring legacy of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and underscores the leadership of Abu Dhabi and the UAE in safeguarding nature and conserving biodiversity to ensure both environmental sustainability and human well-being.
The initiative seeks to increase falcon populations and protect them from threats posed by expanding human activities, shrinking natural habitats, unsustainable breeding practices, climate change, and other factors that place these majestic birds at risk of extinction.