The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Norilsk Nickel signed an agreement at the Eastern Economic Forum to take measures to preserve rare and endangered populations of birds of the falcon family, in particular the gyrfalcon. The document was signed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia Dmitry Tetenkin and Vice President of Norilsk Nickel Andrey Grachev.
“The agreement is designed for two years - from 2022 to 2023, and provides for financing in the amount of 50 million rubles. A wide range of work is planned - from genetic research to the organization of tracking birds using satellite transmitters," the Ministry of Natural Resources said on its website.
As Grachev noted, the gyrfalcon is the rarest species suffering from climate change and anthropogenic impact, and work on the restoration and conservation of endangered species requires a strong scientific base and qualified specialists.
“We hope that our support will help attract professionals to this problem. Moreover, the gyrfalcon is the largest of the falcons, and over the past 20 years, its population has decreased in Russia by almost three times due to poaching. Today, the approximate number of gyrfalcon in Russia is estimated at 3.5-5 thousand breeding pairs. At the moment, it is planned to create research sites in two territories - Yamal and Kamchatka, where the largest bird population is located,” Grachev was quoted as saying.
The agreement was signed within the framework of the federal project “Conservation of biological diversity and development of ecological tourism”.
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