Bonn
/ Bergen 29 November 2011– The
globally threatened Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser
erythropus) was prominently featured at the 10th
Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention
on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
which took place from 20-25 November 2011 in Bergen, Norway.

The Lesser White-fronted Goose is the migratory species
in Norway that has undergone the most drastic decline,
and saving this enigmatic bird is clearly close to the
Norwegian heart. Norway plays a very active role in the
international conservation efforts of the species both
by continuously contributing substantial amounts of funding
to various projects and by sharing its expertise and knowledge
with other stakeholders.

Pledge for project to reduce the threat from
illegal hunting on threatened waterbirds in Kostanay,
Kazakhstan

During
a donor's meeting at CMS COP10, the Norwegian Ministry
of the Environment announced its decision to support four
international conservation projects for migratory species
under CMS and its Agreements, one of which is a project
proposal put forward by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat with
the aim to reduce the threat from illegal hunting on threatened
waterbirds in the Kostanay region of northern Kazakhstan.

The project aims to target and strengthen cooperation
with key game husbandries in Kostanay, which is the major
stop-over area for waterbirds migrating from their Russian
breeding areas to wintering areas to the west and further
south. The area is particularly critical for threatened
species such as the Lesser White-fronted Goose and Red-breasted
Goose (Branta ruficollis). As the area is extremely large
and key sites used by migrating birds fluctuate from year
to year depending on water levels in different lakes,
measures with regard to hunting need to be carried out
throughout the entire region in order to ensure better
protection of threatened waterbirds.

CMS COP10 Side-event on the Lesser White-fronted
Goose

On
Thursday the 24th of November 2011, the Lesser White-fronted
Goose was the focus of a special side-event organized
by the Norwegian Ornithological Society (NOF) and the
Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. The side-event
highlighted the drastic decline of the species - particularly
of the small Fennoscandian sub-population which still
breeds in northern Norway – and showcased the conservation
measures being implemented under the Norwegian National
Action Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose in an ongoing
effort to ensure that the remaining staging and breeding
areas in Norway are as safe as possible for the birds.

Following a short introductory video on the Lesser White-fronted
Goose in Norway, both Dr. Ingar Jostein Øien from
NOF and State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of the
Environment, Ms. Heidi Sørensen emphasized that
conservation efforts in Norway alone are not sufficient
and called for continued international cooperation for
the Lesser White-fronted Goose along its entire flyway,
with a focus on defining and protecting key sites as well
as tackling the main threat of illegal hunting.

10 Minutes for the Lesser White-fronted Goose
(Interviews & Statements from CMS COP10)

CMS publication on ecological networks

Last but not least the Lesser White-fronted Goose was
also featured as an example species in the publication
produced by UNEP/GRID-Arendal for CMS COP10 focusing
on the importance of ecological networks for the survival
of migratory species.