Tatarstan's unique ecological project for the return of the Saker Falcon is presented at the EEF-2025
The project is implemented in support of the national Environmental Well-being project
Today, a unique ecological project has been presented at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, which returns a rare and endangered species, the Saker falcon, to nature. The initiative of the Ministry of Ecology of Tatarstan has become a vivid example of effective cooperation between government, science, business and society to preserve Russia's biodiversity.
The project partner, President of the NGO Union of Falconry and Protection of Birds of Prey "Russian Falcon" Ildar Yenaleev, made a presentation at the III International Forum "Falcon Day", where experts discussed the legal framework and successful practices of reintroduction of rare bird species.
The project attracted special attention of the participants due to its high results — over the three years of the project's implementation, 24 Saker falcon chicks were successfully adapted to their natural habitat and released into the nature of Tatarstan.
"This project is not just the restoration of a rare bird population, but an important contribution to the implementation of the national project "Ecological Well-being", which is supervised by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and is being implemented on behalf of the President of Russia V. V. Putin," stressed Ildar Yenaleev.
The Saker Falcon, once widespread in Russia, is now listed in the Red Books of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan. The disappearance of this species from the nature of the region has become an environmental problem requiring urgent action.
In 2024, adult birds were placed in the aviaries of the Kazan Zoo, which in 2025 brought out the first offspring — 2 chicks of the saker falcon. They were released into the natural environment along with 6 chicks brought from a nursery in the Moscow region.
The project is being implemented with the financial support of SIBUR, which demonstrates the growing responsibility of business for the preservation of Russia's natural heritage. All released birds are monitored by ornithologists and volunteers.
"The return of the Saker falcon to the native sky of Tatarstan is not only the restoration of ecological balance, but also the preservation of the cultural heritage associated with this noble bird," the Ministry of Ecology of Tatarstan notes.
The high quality of the project is confirmed by its victory in the All–Russian competition "Reliable Partner - Ecology" and reaching the finals of the National Award "Crystal Compass".
The International Falcon Day Forum, where the project was presented, has been held annually in Russia since 2023 and is becoming a key platform for dialogue on the conservation of rare bird species.