Hungarian National Action Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose in the Pipeline

Bonn 24 May 2013 - Completing another milestone in the EU LIFE+ project "Safeguarding the Lesser White-fronted Goose Fennoscandian population in key wintering and staging sites within the European flyway", the Hortob?gy National Park Directorate organized a National Action Planning Workshop in Balmaz?jv?ros, Hungary on the 3 - 5 April 2013.

The workshop was attended by the 22 members of the Hungarian Lesser White-fronted Goose Working Group, which includes ornithologists from Hungarian National Parks, representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development, the Hungarian National Chamber of Hunters as well as NGO representatives.

Following numerous presentations on the scientific background of waterbird migration, past and current Lesser White-fronted Goose EU LIFE projects, the current global status of the Lesser White-fronted Goose as well as the situation in Hungary, workshop participants discussed the main tasks of the National Working Group in 2013 which include finalizing the National Action Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose. One of the main outstanding tasks identified is the collection of all available data and literature in Hungary and to draft a comprehensive catalogue of the important staging areas with possible threats and subsequent actions listed for every site.

On the last day participants took part in a field excursion to the Hortob?gy National Park to observe flocks of geese and were lucky to see a total of 13 Lesser White-fronted Geese in a flock of approximately 10.000 Greater White-fronted Geese in the R?k?s area of the park. For more information on the EU LIFE+ project "Safeguarding the Lesser White-fronted Goose Along the European Flyway", please visit the project website hosted by WWF Finland.

For more information on Lesser White-fronted Goose activities in Hungary, please contact David Bogyo from the Hortob?gy National Park Directorate.