Red-breasted Goose Conservation Workshop in Moscow

A Red-breasted Goose Conservation Workshop took place during 23-25 February in Moscow, Russia. The workshop was organized by the Red-breasted Goose International Working Group and was hosted by the Goose, Swan and Duck Study Group of Northern Eurasia, Moscow Zoo and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Science.

The meeting was generously supported by the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (UNEP/AEWA), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB), the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), Vogelbescherming Nederland, and Moscow Zoo.



The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a globally threatened species breeding in the Russian arctic, migrating through Kazakhstan and Russia, and wintering in Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

The meeting in Moscow was attended by around 25 people, actively working in the field of Red-breasted Goose research and conservation, including participants from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine as well as experts from WWT, Wetlands International, and representatives from the Goose, Swan and Duck Study Group of Northern Eurasia (RGG), Moscow Zoo and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Science.

The aim of the workshop was three-fold: to develop the draft International Species Action Plan, particularly to ensure input from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine; to develop and improve links with the RBGIWG in these countries; and to provide an update on conservation and research activities on the species and review the potential for future collaborative projects.

Presentations on monitoring and research activities in the breeding, staging and wintering grounds, covering the results of recent monitoring throughout the range, highlighting threats and issues for the geese, notably fluctuations in water levels and fires. Results were also presented for studies on the breeding grounds, including associations with nesting raptors, and the potential effects of climate change.

Talks also covered IBAs in Kazakhstan, and Wetlands International’s Wings over Wetlands Project and Critical Sites Network Tool, the WoW Training and Awareness Raising program and their relevance to Red-breasted Geese.

The Moscow Zoo provided accommodation for the participants as well as a conference hall. During a short excursion through the Zoo, participants were able to see different waterbird species, among them also globally threatened species, such as Red-breasted Goose.

For more information about the Red-breasted Goose Conservation Workshop, please visit the RBGIWG website at

www.brantaruficollis.org