OA What are the advantages of protecting species?
NH By protecting species we are protecting our planet, and the state of biodiversity and nature which has evolved over billions of years. As far as we know earth is the only place with life in the universe and so every fragment of that has to be important. Our natural planet is the only one on which humans can exist, and we cannot survive in a severely degraded environment.
OA To you, what do falcons represent?
NH Falcons to me represent highly evolved aerial hunters – which leads to their cultural importance globally and their ecological importance in maintaining ecosystems.
OA Which kind of falcon do you prefer, and did you contribute to any fund-related projects that involved falcons?
NH I do love Saker falcons, but unfortunately so far, we have not provided a grant for direct falcon conservation, although we have supported 384 bird related projects from vultures, lorikeets, macaws, and eagles to name a few.
OA What do you think of the UAE logo showing the falcons?
NH I think it is very evocative of the relationship between the UAE and falconing, and hence the importance of maintaining that connection with nature.
OA How significant do you believe falcons are in terms of conservation?
NH Falcons are important predators, which means they help to maintain a balanced ecosystem by controlling herbivores, for example. In almost all ecosystems, healthy numbers of predators lead to a healthy ecosystem.
OA How can I help the UAE’s conservation efforts as a falconer, in your opinion?
NH I think that as a falconer you have to be very aware of the bird’s natural requirements, and what its natural niche would be in an ecosystem.
OA Can young people like me contribute to conservation efforts? If yes, how?
NH Everyone can contribute. This can either be through direct conservation action (after some studying!), but also simply living in a way which is kind to nature. We all use far too many resources, and we should all be aware that everything we buy, consume, discard, and prioritise has an impact on nature. Every one of us can consider whether that impact is positive or not.
OA Thank you, that was fun and insightful.
NH Thank you for your time.