Wildlife group praises UAE

The president of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation has applauded the UAE for its role in having falconry recognised as an element of cultural heritage.

"Within our membership in 84 countries around the world, we actively promote the obligation the sustainable hunting community owes to the UAE for their outstanding achievements for both our hereditary culture and our hunting traditions," Dieter Schramm, the Austrian who is council president, said at its general assembly in St Petersburg, Russia.

Last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) added falconry to its cultural heritage list as the result of a push by 11 countries including the Emirates, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Syria.