Majid Ali Al Mansouri, secretary-general of the Environmental Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), said: "Any increase in production will take us a step forward in achieving our dream of sustainable development for both our country's wildlife and our natural heritage and culture."

Al Mansouri said the scheme's success was an accumulation of consolidating scientific, cultural and official efforts. All parties recognised the close relationship of the bustard with falconry in the UAE, he said.

He confirmed ongoing efforts to conserve the sport locally and worldwide.

Al Mansouri indicated the efforts made by the agency, through the research centre, for the conservation of the Houbara bustard.

He said the centre, which was set up in 1993 through the support of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had made all endeavours to protect the environment.

He said the captive breeding programme, which is considered a pioneering scheme, is one of the significant steps made by the agency to conserve the country's natural resources.

"The other efforts carried out by the agency, for the conservation of the Houbara bustard, such as research and the annual monitoring of the population in the wild... will proceed until the number of bustards in the wild [either in their natural regions or in the regions to which they migrate] reverts to what it was."