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The Actions

A short description of the main actions of the project is given here. The results of the actions are described in more detail on the respective sub-pages

A pair of Lesser White-fronted Goose on a coastal meadow on the Finnish Bothnian Bay Coast in May 2005 © WWF Finland LWfG conservation project / Ari Leinonen

Catching and colour ringing of the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Geese

The colour ringing of LWfG is a useful tool in order to provide information e.g. on the use of the stopover sites along the migration route, survival rates, individual reproduction, as well as on the population development, annual production, and survival rate of adults and juveniles. Catching of LWfG took place at the Valdak Marshes in the Porsangen Fjord area in Norway.

Satellite tracking of the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Geese

Satellite tracking is necessary in order to locate the breeding sites, and also some of the still unknown (especially spring) staging sites of the Fennoscandian LWfG population. To improve the conservation status of the Lesser White-fronted Goose along the European migration route, it is essential to locate these areas, and to improve the protection status of the sites, if relevant.

Preparation of National Action Plans for Lesser White-fronted Goose in Norway, Finland and Estonia

According to the International Action Plan for the species (1996), the Policy and Legislative objective “To finalise detailed conservation planning with member states in the flyway of the Lesser White-fronted Goose” is given high priority in short time-scale. Preparation of national Action Plans for the species is an essential part of this work.The Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation national action plans in Norway, Finland and Estonia were prepared by the project, and the respective national authorities adopted the plans in 2008.

Restoration and management of Lesser White-fronted Goose habitats: Haeska Islets, Matsalu Bay, Estonia

Due to decreased land-use of semi-natural open landscape areas there are not many suitable roosting sites left for flocks of migrating geese and other birds staging at the coastal areas in Estonia. The Haeska islets in the Matsalu Bay were restored by the LIFE project into low-growth coastal meadow, a perfect roosting place for the LWfG. The islets are situated next to their favourite feeding grounds (Haeska coastal meadows and fields).

Aerial view of the northern shore of the Matsalu Bay, facing west. The Estonian management actions take place on the Rahu islets in the middle. © Matsalu National Park

Providing safe feeding and roosting areas for Lesser White-fronted Geese by habitat management in the Hortobágy National Park, Hungary

As a result of these actions the LWfG can remain in safe areas and feed without disturbance (from hunting and other human activities) during their stay in spring and autumn in the Hortobágy National Park. This way the risk for LWfG of being shot is significantly lower, and the LWfG can use the feeding time more efficiently. This, in turn, contributes to a better body condition of LWfG and better prospects for survival.

Raising public awareness on the threatened status and identification of Lesser White-fronted Goose, especially amongst hunters, landowners and farmers: Estonia, Hungary, Greece

Public awareness work is an essential part of the conservation of LWfG, a long distance migrant that is threatened by hunting. According to the International Action Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose (1996), the Public awareness and Training objectives “to increase awareness of the importance of the Lesser White-fronted Goose and the threats facing the species” and “to educate hunters and landowners” are given high priority. Most of the hunters are not able to separate the LWfG from the Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), and many of the hunters are not aware of the critically endangered status of the Fennoscandian population.

Hunting is the most important single threat to LWfG, and thus it is very important that hunters get aware and involved in the project in order to save LWfG. The public awareness actions in LIFE present project were concentrated in the countries / areas where the threats for LWfG (especially hunting pressure) are expected to be highest. Another aim of this action was to train the local farmers to implement agri-environment measures favourable for LWfG in the Evros Delta in Greece.

Monitoring the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose population and the effect of the project actions: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Greece

The Valdak Marshes, Porsangen Fjord, Finnmark, Norway – the most important spring and autumn staging area of Lesser White-fronted Geese in the Nordic countries © Ingar Jostein Øien

According to the International Action Plan for the Lesser White-fronted Goose, the monitoring of the population, including e.g. counts of age ratio and brood size should be carried out as a high priority action in order to assess the trends of the wild population. Reliable, comprehensive and up-to-date information on the population development and the annual production/mortality of the critically endangered Fennoscandian LWfG is essential for planning and conducting all other conservation actions for the population. Monitoring also provides estimates on the population size and trend, as well on the annual production of the LWfG population using the European flyway.

Annual monitoring is indispensable also in assessing the effect of the conservation actions, as well as in assessing the importance of the different threats for the species in each area.

The Lesser White-fronted Goose is a very rare and poorly known species, and this kind of information can not be obtained without annual intensive monitoring of the key sites such as organised by the Life project.

For recent observations of LWfG along the European flyway, see the recent observations page of the Portal to the Lesser White-fronted Goose.