 Tsuneo Hayashida
H.I.H Princess Takamado watching Japanese Cranes in Tsurui Village, Kushiro wetland, in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido
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Princess Takamado becomes BirdLife’s Honorary President
13-03-2004
Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan was today appointed BirdLife’s Honorary President, succeeding Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan in the role.
The announcement was made during the final day of BirdLife’s world conference, which took place this week in Durban, South Africa, and brought together representatives from more than 100 BirdLife Partner organisations from around the world.
Princess Takamado has a lifelong interest in birds and birdwatching. In 2001, Her Imperial Highness was invited to become the Honorary Patron for Asia of BirdLife International’s Rare Bird Club. Since then, Her Imperial Highness has worked closely with BirdLife staff in Tokyo and Cambridge, UK, to raise awareness and interest in the actions needed to save the 323 bird species facing extinction in Asia, including one of the Princess’s favourite birds, the Okinawa Rail. Her Imperial Highness has overseen the establishment of an Asia Bird Fund, to focus conservation fundraising efforts.
During a video address to conference delegates, Her Imperial Highness described herself as “touched that you have chosen me to act as the Honorary President of BirdLife International, and I find the prospect of working with you very exciting.”
“Through my work with BirdLife Partners and Secretariat staff over the last three years, I have become increasingly convinced of the Partnership’s importance and ability to safeguard birds and avian habitats throughout the world. The focus on species, sites, habitats and people is paramount in building, integrating and achieving an effective conservation agenda. The BirdLife Partnership is, through the implementation of these objectives, truly working together for birds and people.”