Sweden hosts 12th IUCN/Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group Meeting
Bonn, 21 October 2009 - Goose experts from 19 countries as well as representatives from several international organizations gathered at Höllviken, Sweden from 9 - 13 October 2009 for the 12th meeting of the IUCN/ Wetlands International Goose Specialist Group. The meeting was organized and hosted by Leif Nilsson from the University of Lund, sponsored by the Swedish Environment Protection Agency and chaired by Bart Ebbinge.
The ambitious program started off with presentations on goose population estimates in different countries and areas such as Kolguev Island in Russia as well as a keynote presentation delivered by Tony Fox from the National Environmental Research Institute at Aarhus University on the status of all goose populations in the Western Palearctic.
Another main topic was the management of different goose populations. Amongst other issues, presenters highlighted different management methods to cope with growing goose populations, such as compensation schemes for farmers whose fields are regularly depleted by growing geese flocks.
In addition, the program included a workshop on Bean Geese, presentations on satellite tracking and migration as well as trends and information concerning the breeding of geese. The group also discussed and debated the future of the goose data base managed by Wetlands International as well as the future of the group itself.
The meeting location was a fitting choice as it is known for the abundant spring and fall migration of birds traveling to and from Scandinavia. In addition to the intense official programme participants had the opportunity to go on an excursion to Falsterbo Nature Reserve to view flocks of migrating birds including a variety of geese and raptors.
The next meeting of the group will take place in spring 2011 in Kalmykia, Russia.
The AEWA Secretariat was represented at the meeting by Technical Officer Sergey Dereliev and the Coordinator for the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Nina Mikander.
For more information see the homepage of the Goose Specialist Group: