Goose Management under AEWA Project

In 2015 the WSF goose management group worked on concrete steps to implement the trilateral goose management scheme. The installation of a management group under the responsibilities of the regional governments (province or state level) failed due to low commitment. Further management tasks are beyond the power and responsibility of the WSF and following, it was decided to suspend the regular meetings of the goose working group. Nevertheless, the WSF is going to cooperate with national and international initiatives to minimize the impacts of increasing migratory goose populations in Europe on economic activities and natural ecosystems.

A step forward was taken at the international conference on goose management on 27-29 October 2015 in Denmark. Recommendations for a sound management on flyway level and the establishment of an “European Goose Management Platform” were agreed on and forwarded to the 6^th Session of the Meeting of the Parties of AEWA in Bonn in November 2015 at which the recommendations were adopted.

Meanwhile, the AEWA Goose Management Platform as wells as a working group as coordinating and decision making body of the Platform has been installed. “ The inter-governmental AEWA European Goose Management International Working Group (hereinafter referred to as EGM IWG) is constituted to serve as the coordinating and decision-making body of the AEWA European Goose Management Platform established under the auspices of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), following AEWA Resolution 6.4, with the goal to ensure the conservation and sustainable use, as well as the favourable conservation status of the migratory goose species and populations to which it applies. The European Goose Management Platform operates in line with existing international obligations and the pertinent legislative frameworks and regulations, as relevant in each range state, including AEWA, the Bern Convention and the EU Birds Directive for the range states to which these apply”.

At the 7^th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (MOP7), 4-8 December 2018 in Durban, two further international single integrated management plans for the goose species Barnacle Goose and Greylag Goose were adopted.

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2009 - 2015:
WSF Trilateral Goose Management Working Group

The proper management of geese is an issue of increasing relevance in the Wadden Sea Region due to increasing numbers of geese and improved cropping systems favored by geese. On the one hand geese are a natural part of the Wadden Sea and adjoining mainland coastal areas and are a typical element of the Wadden Sea Region biodiversity for which the Wadden Sea states have an international responsibility. They also constitute an important touristic attraction. On the other hand, some goose species cause increasing damage to farmlands, while current management schemes for geese are highly variable between countries and liable to further improvement and harmonization.

A Goose Manage- ment Group set up under the Wadden Sea Forum (WSF) with the participation of representatives of national and regional authorities and relevant stakeholders elaborated a report on Goose Management for the Wadden Sea Region, delivered to the 11th Wadden Sea Conference (TGC) in 2010. The report contains an extensive analysis of the development of relevant goose populations and the national management schemes in place. Furthermore the report presented an extensive catalogue of management recommendations and guidance for a Wadden Sea Region wide management. The Sylt Declaration welcomed specifically the WSF goose management guidance and the ministers declared their willingness to support the development of a Goose Management Plan in cooperation with relevant authorities, to achieve a balanced management to accommodate geese in the Wadden Sea Region.

But it became clear, however, that the elaboration of a concrete Goose Management Plan is a huge challenge and may not be possible at the level of detail required for a management plan. Therefore, it became more realistic to elaborate a plan, which is a framework scheme on strategic level, similar to the 2010 report, but with integration of more concrete management measures and defined responsibilities. Following, it was agreed to re-establish a Goose Management Group with representatives of farmer organizations, regional authorities, scientists and NGO's. In December 2013, the GMG presented the final goose management framework scheme, which was also forwarded for decision to the 12th Trilateral Governmental Conference in February 2014 in Tønder, DK.

Goose Report 2010

print quality
(41pp, English, 3,76 MB)

Goose Report 2014

print quality
(51pp, English, 3,77 MB)
screen quality
(51pp, English, 0,7 MB)

Meeting dates and documents of the WSF working group can be found in our archive.