Taiga Bean Geese © Jari Peltomäki
Bonn, 31 July 2017 - Representatives of Range State Governments, experts and key stakeholders came together in Copenhagen from 15 to 16 June to the 2nd annual meeting of the AEWA European Goose Management International Working Group (AEWA EGM IWG). The meeting was kindly hosted by the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food, Environmental Protection Agency and chaired by Mr. Øystein Størkersen, representing Norway.
The AEWA EGM IWG serves as the main coordinating and decision-making body of the AEWA European Goose Management Platform (EGMP), which was established by the pertinent Range States in Paris in May 2016. The goal of the EGMP is to ensure the long-term favourable conservation status of all goose species and their populations under its remit.
At this 2nd Meeting of the AEWA EGM IWG, working group members decided on the next steps relating to the conservation and management measures to be implemented for the Svalbard population of the Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) and the Taiga Bean Goose (Anser f. fabalis). They also agreed on the way forward for the Task Forces, the IWG reporting process and project concepts on review of national hunting regulations and on EGMP communication strategy and work plan.
Pink-footed Geese © Jari Peltomäki |
The meeting started with participants agreeing on the composition, role and responsibilities of national delegations. The guidance document will assist countries in the operations of the IWG and complement the modus operandi, which was adopted at the 1st Meeting of the EGM IWG in 2016.
Following the decision of the 1st Meeting of the EGM IWG on the establishment of an Agriculture Task Force, it was decided to establish two species-specific Task Forces – one for the Pink-footed Goose and the other for the Taiga Bean Goose. Range States to both species are encouraged to designate representatives to join the Task Forces. The IWG also agreed on both generic Terms of Reference for the IWG Task Forces and specific ones for the Agriculture Task Force. Among other roles, the Agriculture Task Force will assist the EGM IWG in coordinating and catalyzing the implementation of activities related to goose management and agriculture under the EGMP.
In order to provide countries with individual guidance as to how they could adapt their national hunting regulations in relation to international EGMP processes, it was agreed that a model legislation will be developed, which would serve as an ideal case scenario for running an Adaptive Management System. As a result of this, the Range States could then undertake a review of their own relevant legislation with regard to the opening/closure of goose hunting seasons and quota setting as well as the collection of harvest data.
With regard to the Pink-footed Goose, the Working Group re-confirmed that the management objective was to maintain the population at 60,000 individuals in order to reduce human-goose conflicts, by providing sustainable hunting opportunities in Norway and Denmark. Due to the increase in the population, it was decided to set the harvest quota at 36,000 individuals for the next season.
Pink-footed Geese © John Anderson |
For the other species on the agenda – the Taiga Bean Goose - for the first time in the history of European waterbird management, consensus had been reached among countries on how to reduce hunting to enable a species to recover. The Working Group stressed the need to achieve a prompt recovery of the Taiga Bean Goose population. Consequently, Denmark Finland, Norway and Sweden agreed on a 3 per cent harvest rate for the next season.
Prior to the EGM IWG meeting, the International Management Planning Workshop for the Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) was held in the same venue on 12-14 June again at the invitation of the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food, Environmental Protection Agency. At this workshop, the Range States discussed the objectives of an International Single Species Management Plan based on the identified threats to and problems associated with the fast-growing populations of this species. The workshop concluded with a broad objectives framework which will be further elaborated at a second workshop next year based on further information and models compiled by the EGMP Data Centre.
The third annual meeting of the Working Group is expected to take place back-to-back with the 2nd Barnacle Goose Management Planning Workshop, in the Netherlands in mid-June 2018.
For additional information, please visit the meeting page or contact the AEWA EGMP Coordinator Ms. Eva Meyers.
Last updated on 04 September 2018