RESOLUTION

OF THE 1ST CONFERENCE OF THE GOOSE AND SWAN STUDY GROUP OF EASTERN EUROPE AND NORTH ASIA

 

"PROBLEMS OF STUDYING AND CONSERVATION OF ANSERIFORMS

OF EASTERN EUROPE AND NORTH ASIA"

25&endash;27 January 2001, Moscow, Russia

 

1. The Conference was attended by more than 160 specialists from 14 countries (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Estonia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Finland, Canada, and Japan).

2. The Conference approves of revival of the regular waterfowl conferences initiated by the Board of the Goose and Swan Study Group of Eastern Europe and North Asia. Such conferences are recommended to be held every four years.

3. The Conference voted for rename of the Goose and Swan Study Group of Eastern Europe and North Asia (GSSG) into the Goose, Swan and Duck Study Group of the North Eurasia (GSDSG).

4. The Conference highly appreciates GSSG activities in the studying and conservation of the waterfowl and wetlands. The Conference considers regular publication of "Casarca", an annual GSSG journal, as a great achievement. The journal has been issued since 1995 and is now distributed and well-known in many countries. The Conference recommends to publish selected articles from "Casarca" in English so that they could be available for the larger number of interested persons.

5. The Conference recommends the GSSG Board to apply to the governmental agencies of Russia and other countries for funds necessary for annual issuing of "Casarca", considering the fact that the great contribution of the journal into waterfowl research and conservation is acknowledged. It is also reasonable to apply for financial support to the large national industrial companies and associations.

6. The Conference expresses concern for the fact that, while the goose numbers rapidly increase all over the world, almost all goose and some duck species inhabiting East Asia (particularly populations wintering in China) are dramatically declining in numbers. Urgent measures aimed at co-ordination and increase of international efforts for prevention of extinction of the Lesser White-fronted Goose, Swan Goose, Eastern Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese, Baikal Teal, Falcated Teal, and some other waterfowl species should be taken.

7. The Conference is satisfied with the great interest of its participants to the problem of studying and conservation of the Lesser White-fronted Goose. The species has been in the focus of GSSG attention for some years and a special programe on it has been developed with active participation and assistance of the colleagues from Finland.

8. The Conference welcomes the intention of Wetlands International to develop the project devoted to the studying and conservation of the birds and wetlands of the Central-Eurasian migration region; GSSG has been dealing with the problems of this region for a number of years.

9. The Conference empasizes the importance of Russia's joining the Afro-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the support of the development of activities of the Asia-Pacific Waterbird conservation strategy by contacts with the Anatidae Working Group, APMWCC.

10. The Conference recommends to pay particular attention to the strengthening and developing contacts with the national nature protective organisations (Russian Bird Conservation Union, Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Junior Associations for Nature Protection, etc.), affiliates of the international conservation organisations (Wetlands International, IUCN, WWF), foreign governmental organisations (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Wildlife Management of the Netherlands) and foreign national societies for bird protection (e. g., GSSG has established contacts with Japanese Association for Wild Geese Protection and Finnish Society of friends of the Lesser White-fronted Goose and cooperation with them has been very fruitful).

11. The Conference emphasizes the necessity of development of contacts with the game agencies, such as the Department of Protection and Sustainable Use of the Game Animals of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Russian Association of Hunters and Fishermen, CIC, "Migrating Birds of the Western Palearctic" Association (OMPO, France), etc. Contacts with these orgnisations will promote consolidation of the efforts in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of waterfowl, including game management.

12. The Conference pays particular attention to the development of contacts with the regional organisations, regional affiliates of conservation agencies and hunters' associations and societies in particular.

13. The Conference expresses sincere gratitude to the following sponsors who provided financial assistance and logistics support:

14. The Conference is grateful to the administration of the Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, for hospitality and the members of the Organising Committee for their efforts.