Bonn, 29 March 2011 - Goose experts from some 20 countries as well as representatives from several international organizations gathered at Elista in the Republic of Kalmykia located in south-western Russia from 25-30 March 2011 for the 13^th meeting of the IUCN/ Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group. The meeting was organized by the Goose, Swan and Duck Study Group of Northern Eurasia (RGG) and was facilitated by RRG Chair Evgeny Syrechkovskiy.

The overall theme for the meeting was titled “Waterfowl of Northern Eurasia: Geography, Dynamics and Population Management”. The ambitious programme started off with presentations on goose flyways and geographical distributions – mainly within the Russian Federation – complemented by two presentations by Taej Mundkur from Wetlands International on the Critical Site Network Tool (CSN) and the CMS Flyway Working Group. In the second session focus turned to threatened goose species, with several presentations on the current status of the Lesser White-fronted Goose (LWfG) and the Red-breasted Goose (RbG) in particular. Hunting and the sustainable use of waterbirds also featured as a key topic, with particular focus on the situation in Russia. Several approaches to the problem were presented, including a keynote presentation by Bradley Bortner from the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the American experience in waterfowl population and hunting management. Other topics discussed included waterfowl in arid ecosystems, fundamental research in waterfowl biology as well as dynamics in goose populations and their environments.

Some of the sessions were followed by round-table discussions covering issues such as the conservation of threatened goose species, in which the AEWA Single Species Action Plans and Species Working Groups were featured, waterfowl management in Russia, the role of the Lower Volga region in waterfowl conservation, the implementation of best practices of waterfowl management in the Kuma-Manych goose migration staging area as well as how land use changes linked to the production of biofuels are affecting geese.

At the end of the conference a resolution was adopted by the group reflecting the numerous issues of concern highlighted during the meeting, for example the need to ban or at least restrict spring hunting. The resolutions will be delivered to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ecology as recommendations for future activities. The resolutions included a recommendation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment that the Russian Federation acceed to AEWA.

On the final day participants took part in an excursion to the Manych-Gudilo lake and river system. The area is a known stop-over site for geese and other waterbirds during spring and autumn migrations.

The next meeting of the group will take place 17 - 22 April 2012 in Steinkjer, Norway.

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat was represented at the meeting by Technical Officer, Mr. Sergey Dereliev and the Coordinator for the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Ms. Nina Mikander.

For more information please see:

- Website of the Goose Specialist Group

- Meeting website: Waterfowl of Northern Eurasia: geography, dynamics and population management