Conservation – New Site

Thousands
of Falcons
are harvested
each year

FROM ILLEGAL HARVEST TO ECOTOURISM

The Red-footed falcon is protected species in both the EU and in Angola. Their long migratory journey is supported by international conventions, yet enforcement of these conservation measures remains challenging.

In Angola, near to the capital of the Red-footed falcons, human communities face significant protein shortages, turning to bushmeat to sustain their diets.

Roosting falcons are easy prey.

When flushed with lights on rainy nights, they fall to the ground with wet wings, where they can be collected with bare hands in the morning.

Since 2019, municipal and provincial leaders and conservation authorities have recognized the severity of this issue.

However, the situation is more complicated than it seems at first glance. During the decades of the civil war in the second half of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of landmines were installed. Not only people suffered enormously, but both livestock and terrestrial wildlife showed a significant decrease, leading to very limited availability of protein sources.

Local communities need enough healthy food to survive, and falcons need undisturbed habitat to fuel up for their long migratory journey.

The locals must understand that the place they live in is unique on Earth. They need to learn more about the falcons’ ecological role and how they benefit people.

The community also has to understand that habitat conservation and sustainable management of the falcons favors ecotourism, thus bringing sustainable benefits on the long term.