Resolution of the Xanten-meeting of the Goose Specialist Group of Wetlands International, 30 January 2007

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The tenth meeting of the Goose Specialist Group concluded that whilst most Eurasian goose populations are increasing, a number are in decline. Nevertheless, basic information and understanding is lacking or needs urgent updating.

Migratory goose populations are a shared resource, protected by international agreements and national legislation.  The Goose Specialist Group recognised its obligations to contribute to support these actions by exchanging information and expertise.  In particular, there is a need to contribute to the effective conservation of all goose populations and evaluating the impact of habitat change, climate change, disease, hunting and other human pressures, notably widescale and dramatic changes in agriculture.  To achieve these aims, it was recognised that there is a clear need for continued monitoring and research, notably including:

• establishing reliable annual population estimates in all countries
• providing population trend analyses
• describing temporal and spatial distributions along the flyway throughout the year
• defining populations and establishing the degree of exchange between these
• reliable annual measures of reproduction and mortality
• effective collation and management of goose data from the international counts
• coordination of marking schemes
• support the compilation of population plans

In particular, the meeting stressed the need to establish the extent of hunting on each population at national and flyway levels. For this purpose, it was emphasised that complete and detailed bag statistics are urgently needed which include data on the subspecies and age classes involved.

Maintenance and enhancement of international cooperation between all the countries concerned is urgently needed. This should be based on a long term commitment and sufficient resourcing. 

The Goose Specialist Group is a unique forum for discussing and coordinating goose research, monitoring and sharing information and interpreting of results. The Group must reinforce its old liaison with Wetlands International and co-operate more closely and effectively with Wetlands International to effectively achieve its long term goals.