PRESS CONFERENCE
Birds as Messengers for Climate Change

H.I.H. Princess Takamado, Honorary President, BirdLife International
Dr. Stuart Butchart, Chief Scientist, BirdLife International

13:00-14:00 Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.
* Initial reservations are limited to five due to space restrictions.

Birds play a crucial role in the natural environment as seed spreaders and pollinators, but about 60 percent of all species are in decline. In Japan, this includes sparrows, whose number has dropped by more than 3.5 percent every year over two decades.

To discuss such declines and their impact, the FCCJ welcomes H.I.H. Princess Takamado, honorary president of BirdLife International, a global partnership of 124 conservation organizations working to protect birds, and Dr. Stuart Butchart, the group's chief scientist. They will discuss initiatives to support bird populations, including the establishment of a Marine Protected Area for millions of migratory birds in the North Atlantic, despite recent political campaigns to erode protections of the environment and biodiversity.

Princess Takamado is an avid wild bird photographer who has long served as an advocate for protecting birds and nature. Dr. Butchart researches the extinction risk of birds for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List and has published widely on the threats to birds, the solutions required, and the impact of conservation.

Please join us for a timely and in-depth discussion on international efforts to protect these vital actors in our planet’s natural environment.

How to attend: 
Please register by emailing front@fccj.or.jp with your name and the name of your media outlet. FCCJ members should also include their membership number. Doors will open 15 minutes before the event.

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live  

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/vdATkjXE3qdU8hEw5

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.  

Professional Activities Committee