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The globally threatened lesser white-fronted goose is a Palearctic migrant, breeding discontinuously in forest-
or shrub tundra and mountainous shrubby wetlands from Fennoscandia to easternmost Russia. The species
has declined rapidly since the 1950s leading to a fragmentation of its breeding range. Many key stop-over and
wintering sites are still unknown. Today, three distinct wild sub-populations remain, of which the two Western
Palearctic subpopulations (Fennoscandian and Western main) continue to decline. The Eastern main sub-
population is currently thought to be stable. In addition, a small population which migrates to the Netherlands
has been supplemented/re-introduced in Sweden using a human-modified flyway.
Threats to migration pathways
Although legally protected in almost all range states, accidental and
illegal hunting are thought to pose the main threats to the lesser
white-fronted goose. This is particularly the case along the flyway
of the Western main population, but hunting is also considered the
foremost threat in the south-eastern European wintering areas of
the small Fennoscandian population.
The lesser white-fronted goose is a so-called look-alike species,
which constitutes the major barrier to implementing effective
Lesser white-fronted goose
(
Anser erythropus
)
conservation measures to minimize the negative impact of
hunting. It very closely resembles the greater white-fronted goose
(
Anser albifrons
), which is a common quarry species across its
entire range. When migrating together in mixed flocks the two
species are hard to distinguish, particularly in flight.
Additional threats include habitat loss and predation. Further,
gaps in key knowledge, such as the location of the wintering sites
of the Western main population, continue to limit the effective
implementation of conservation measures.
CMS STATUS
CMS INSTRUMENT(S)
Appendix I & II
African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)