International AEWA Single Species Action-Plan
Taiga Bean Goose (Anser f. fabalis)
Results from workshop in Tuusula
12-14 November 2013
Photo Asko Kettunen
Mikko Alhainen
Finnish Wildlife Agency
Finland
Background of the project
• In 2012 AEWA (the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement) changed the
protection status of the NE European/NW European population to
Column A, category 3c*. Previously it was listed in Column B, category 1.
– Due to the long term decline of the population
– Hunting may continue on a sustainable use basis. This sustainable use
shall be conducted within the framework of an international species
action plan, which will implement the principles of adaptive harvest
management.
• AEWA Technical Committee (by proposal of Finland): Species Action Plan
will be developed 2012–2015 for Taiga Bean Goose and the draft plan shall
be ready for adoption by MOP6 in 2015
 The adoption and implementation of the plan is in the hunters interest,
as it is the way to continue the harvest of TBG
 Different approach than in EU management plans
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Nordic WORKSHOP
ISSAP WORKSHOP
Process Map for TBG
AEWA ISSAP Workshop at Tuusula 12-14.11.2013
Representatives from
11 of the 14 range states and
the international conservation and hunting communities and
the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat.
Workshop at Tuusula 12-14.11.2013
At the workshop we managed to:
• Identify
– key knowledge gaps and needs
– key problems and threats
 Based on problem and threat
assessment , we managed to
• Create a Framework of Action as an
Objectives tree
Draft Framework of Action as
Objectives tree
Goal-Objective-Result-Action-Responsibility
Draft Framework of Action as
Objectives tree
Goal-Objective-Result-Action-Responsibility
Main workshop outcomes:
•
Long-term goal: restore the population to a favourable conservation status;
– Population target size will be defined by the Drafting Team: size of around
(?? ??? birds for each MU  TBG total pop)
– Population target shall take take the social carrying capacity in the account ,
and that is lower than the ecological
•
Short-term goal (10 years): stabilize (stop the decline) the population size at
least at the current level;
•
Division of the overall Taiga Bean Goose population into four sub-populations or
management units based on their clearly distinct breeding areas
•
An adaptive harvest management framework for the Taiga Bean Goose will be
developed within the context of the ISSAP.
• Division of TBG population into four management units based on
their clearly distinct breeding areas
•
•
•
•
Western [W]: West Sweden, North-Western Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom
Central [C]: Russia (Karelia), Finland, Sweden, Northern Norway, Eastern
Denmark
Eastern 1 [E1]: Russia (W Siberia), Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine,
Poland,Germany [the Netherlands in cold winters]
Eastern 2 [E2]: Russia (W Siberia), Kazakhstan, North-Western China, East
Kirgizstan
C: 35 000
Stable/declining
W: 1 500
Stable/declining
W
C
E1
E1: 15 000
declining
Map: Thomas Heinicke, Leif Nilsson, Fred Johnson, Tony Fox, Jesper Madsen
E2: ????
declining
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E2
Adaptive Harvest Management approach is the key tool to manage the
uncertainties and knowledge gaps we have and we will have in the understanding of
the dynamics and sustainable use of the Taiga Bean Geese.
•
We have the necessary data and understanding to start the Adaptive Harvest
Management at Flyway level. Through the Adaptive approach, including learning
from what we have done, we can, over time, gain more understanding of the
system and improve our management actions.
•
The adaptive approach is a system of ‘trial and error and learning’, where we will
have a Set-Up phase to create the frame for the AHM process, and then we will:
1. Make the best decision we can with the information and understanding we have
for the moment
2. Predict the outcomes/results we expect our decision will have
3. Monitor the outcomes/results in the field
4. Compare the observations in the field to our predictions
5. Learn from the comparison of observations and predictions, and use this
improved understanding to make a better decision next year.
Practical example of hunting regulation under AHM frame
Svalbard Pink-footed Geese
• Population target of around
60 000 birds
TempDays = 0
Harvest
• Harvest levels in any state of
the system is guiding the pop.
towards the target
Young
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
Adults
TempDays = 8
Young
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
Adults
TempDays = 16
Harvest
20
Young
• Monitoring the pop size in
winter + weather conditions in
spring
 Prediction of pop status
 Decision on hunting quota
 Division to national quotas
 National decisions on how
to meet the quota
Harvest
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
Adults
13.4.2015
© Suomen riistakeskus
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© Fred Johnson SE Ecological Science Center
Main activities requiring funding and to be implemented in the
short term as a matter of priority:
•
Analysis of available data for the Taiga Bean Goose to determine delineation of
stocks, survival rates, and likely sustainable levels of off-take in comparison with
current levels;
•
Ensure adequate annual monitoring in all appropriate range states, including
coordinated mid-winter counts to estimate population sizes (starting in January
2014), productivity, marking to monitor annual survival and hunting bag statistics
for all three stocks;
•
Conduct satellite tagging to establish staging, wintering and breeding ranges of
the Eastern populations;
•
Collect available information about staging and wintering Taiga Bean Geese in the
Central Asian Flyway (Eastern 2 sub-population);
•
Consider introducing a moratorium on the hunting of Taiga Bean Geese in key
range states for the Eastern 1 sub-population due to its strong decline and
estimated low numbers.
Main activities requiring funding and to be implemented in the
short term as a matter of priority:
Focus on discussions in afternoon workshop
• Ensure adequate annual monitoring in all appropriate range states and all
three stocks, including
– coordinated mid-winter counts to estimate population sizes (starting
in January 2014),
– productivity,
– marking to monitor annual survival and
– hunting bag statistics
How to go forward?
Main activities requiring funding and to be implemented in the
short term as a matter of priority:
Focus on discussions in afternoon workshop
•
Activities on previous slide will provide tools to develop AHM framework.
– For TBG the AHM frame will be very robust and simple compared to SPfG
• Prior to implementation of ISSAP and AHM
– Coordinated hunting regulations already 2014 and 2015?
• Good sign to hunters in countries that are already having hunting restrictions
due to the decline
– Protective hunting – effects on Taiga Bean Goose?
Nordic WORKSHOP
ISSAP WORKSHOP
Process Map for TBG
Suomen riistakeskus
www.kosteikko.fi www.riista.fi
18
Suomen riistakeskus
www.kosteikko.fi www.riista.fi
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Thank you!
Looking forward to a effective and constructive workshop
Välitalon wetland at Pudasjärvi municipality
Ribbed aapa mire, restored by
Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands project and private landowner
Suomen riistakeskus
www.kosteikko.fi www.riista.fi
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Kuva: Mikko Alhainen