The Environmental Board and the Environment Agency are considering the allowance of goose hunting in the spring

The Environmental Board and the Environment Agency in collaboration with ornithologists, farmers and other stakeholders are considering to allow goose hunting in the spring to reach a mutually acceptable result.In Europe, bird hunting in the spring is not allowed according to the Birds Directive, but pursuant to the interpretation of this directive, there may be granted exemptions upon hunting for some species with a high degree of distribution and abundance, such as the Barnacle goose. However, the member countries must ensure that the implementation of such exemptions does not adversely affect the populations of these species. What is more, the granting of these exceptions requires an EU Member State to prepare an action plan for the control and protection of Anseriformes. Therefore, in the spring, the Environmental Board started to develop an action plan for solving problems concerning species such as the bean goose, greater white-fronted goose, greylag goose, Barnacle goose and Canada goose. The aim of this action plan is to agree on the guidelines to ensure that populations of such species would remain in a favourable condition reducing bird damage to farmers. “In the process of preparing the action plan, we need to reach a mutually acceptable conclusion on allowing the goose hunting in the spring. To this end, stakeholder discussions will be held, as well as assessing the results of this year's spring geese deterrence-related pilot project and collecting example material from other countries. Of course, we must observe and take into consideration any relevant international agreements too, when preparing the plan. For instance, the working group on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds is in the process of preparing an implementation plan for the management and protection of the Barnacle goose and Estonia will have to take into account the proposals therein. The decision on a large-scale goose hunt in the spring may therefore only be implemented after national discussions and the completion of the action plan, or in other words, in the spring of 2021 at the earliest," explained Olav Etverk, Head of Forestry Department at the Environmental Board.In a pilot study on deterrence of geese in Tartu, Jõgeva and Ida-Virumaa, the Environmental Board and the Environmental Agency wished to find out, whether fatal deterrence activity is more effective in geese management than the currently available deterrent measures, such as producing a loud bang and scaring with lasers, etc. A total of 101 geese were hunted in the areas involved in the pilot project in the spring, but precise results will be available only in late September. In the spring of next year, the Environmental Board aims to continue with a similar pilot study, including other counties, like the West-Estonian area.The Environment Agency feels delighted to note that the number of highly endangered species only in the 1980s, the Barnacle goose, has continued to increase significantly in recent decades. However, we also understand the farmers, who are concerned about the loss of their crops caused by the increase in the number of Barnacle geese.“Since we are dealing with a sensitive species, it is important to learn all aspects of spring hunt in order to maintain the balance of the biodiversity. How to do this exactly, will be the duty of the cooperation between the agencies and the professionals. Here, we trust our colleagues in the Environmental Board, whom we work closely with and who develop an optimal solution. By operating jointly, we will surely find the best solution to this situation,” is a confident Piret Kiristaja, Head of Nature Department at the Estonian Environment Agency.More information:Olav EtverkHead of Forestry Department at the Environmental Boarde-mail: [email protected]: +372 503 2190Piret Kiristaja Head of Nature Department at the Estonian Environment Agencye-mail: [email protected] telephone: +372 5671 1154