New EU LIFE+ proposal for the Lesser White-fronted Goose in the making

Bonn, 22 March 2010 – Representatives from Greece, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria and the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat met for a two-day workshop in Tichero, Greece on the 11th and 12th of March to discuss the application for a new EU LIFE+ project for the conservation of the Fennoscandian population of the Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus) along its European flyway.

The new project proposal will build on the results and recommendations of the previous LWfG EU LIFE project lead by WWF Finland which ended last year. In addition it will follow the general guidelines of the AEWA International Single Species Action Plan for the LWfG.

All participants agreed that increased conservation efforts are needed in the southern and eastern European countries, especially in Greece where hunting remains the major threat to the species. The entire Fennoscandian population is believed to winter in Greece which means that urgent measures to tackle illegal hunting as well as habitat loss at the two key Greek sites Kerkini and Evros are needed.

Sun sets on fields near the Evros river as Petteri Tolvanen from WWF Finland keeps a look out for geese / Photo: Nina Mikander (UNEP/AEWA)

Yannis Tsougrakis (Birdlife Greece) and Petteri Tolvanen (WWF Finland) stand next to the sign funded by the previous LIFE project highlighting the look-alike problem between Greater White-fronted and Lesser White-fronted Geese / Photo: Nina Mikander (UNEP/AEWA)

Ingar Øien (Birdlife Norway) and Petteri Tolvanen (WWF Finland) examine the remains of a goose at Evros Delta National Park / Photo: Nina Mikander (UNEP/AEWA)

Discussions with the Evros Delta Management Authority followed by an excursion to the Evros Delta National Park and the core protected area favoured by the geese demonstrated the importance of enforcing the ban of vehicles and hunting in the area which is at present beyond the authority of the managing officials. Poaching is known to occur within the National Park.

Other activities discussed to be included in the project application include habitat restoration, filling in key knowledge gaps as well as awareness-raising. Any such measures will of course only be successful in the longer term if the threat from illegal hunting is tackled.

Due to the need to concentrate on conservation activities in Greece the role of lead partner and project applicant will be taken up by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS). Other partners in the new project will most likely be the Evros Delta and Kerkini Management Authorities, as well as organizations from Finland, Hungary and possibly Bulgaria. Norway and the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat will take part in the work of the project Steering Committee. Initial plans foresee activities in other countries along the flyway as well, for example monitoring missions in Poland and Lithuania as well as charting suitable LWfG habitats in Turkey.

The application deadline for LIFE+ projects this year is expected to be the 1st of September 2010. If the project application is successful the project would start in September 2011 at the earliest.

For more information please contact:

Ms. Nina Mikander, Coordinator for the Lesser White-fronted Goose