"Providing a climate resilient network of critical sites for the Lesser White-fronted Goose in Europe" (LIFE19 NAT/LT/000898)
The Lesser White-fronted Goose LIFE LWfG CLIMATE project (LIFE19 NAT/LT/000898) is an international EU LIFE Nature project that aims to halt the decline of the critically endangered Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus) population by implementing concrete conservation actions in Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland. The project started late October 2020 and continues until August 2025.
The overall goal of the project is to contribute to restoring the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose population to a favourable conservation status, as outlined in the International Single Species Action Plan. This means that the Fennoscandian population exceeds 1,000 individuals and is not declining, that the breeding range is stable or expanding and that adequately managed, protected habitat is available at all key sites.
The project targets the species' Fennoscandian population. Countries participating will be delivering on their obligations under the EU Birds Directive as well as under the AEWA, the Bern Convention and Convention of Migratory Species.
Main objectives
- To mitigate the effect of climate change by increasing the climate resilience of the existing network of sites within the EU
- To provide countries and stakeholders with guidance to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation measures
- To increase the availability of suitable habitats for the Lesser White-fronted Goose both in terms of area and number of sites
- Τo support adaptation and expansion of the network of critical sites to reflect the changing migratory behaviour of the population
- To improve knowledge of Lesser White-fronted Goose migration routes by establishing new monitoring teams and establishing a caretaker network
- To identify at least 2 new sites for the species through trained teams, expeditions and eDNA analysis
- To improve Natura 2000 network for the Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation by including the Lesser White-fronted Goose as a new trigger species within the current SPAs in Lithuania.
Supporting objectives
- To improve and ensure long-term national implementation of conservation action by adopting two National Action Plans for the species
- To contribute to the international conservation of the Lesser White-fronted Goose and other threatened migratory waterbirds by engaging various international conservation initiatives
- To contribute to the adoption of farming practices in the key species stop-over sites while avoiding disturbance of the Lesser White-fronted Goose
- To raise awareness about the conservation of the Lesser White-fronted Goose locally and internationally and to showcase the species as a champion for flyway level conservation action.
Learn more about the LWfG at the project international website:
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