WG 7 — Geese

The Geese Working Group coordinates research and conservation action for migratory goose species using the Central Asian Flyway, with a focus on population monitoring, migration ecology, long-term conservation and sustainable management.

Geese are key components of wetland and grassland ecosystems and are culturally and economically important across the CAF. Several species face population declines due to habitat loss, hunting pressure, and environmental change.

• Greylag Goose

• Bar-headed Goose

• Lesser White-fronted Goose

• Greater White-fronted Goose

• Taiga Bean Goose

• Insufficient population data across the flyway

• Hunting pressure and unsustainable use in parts of the range

• Loss of breeding and stopover habitats

• Limited coordination of telemetry and survey efforts

• Monitor population status using ringing, tagging, and aerial surveys

• Identify key breeding, stopover, and wintering sites

• Develop a Regional Goose Conservation Action Plan

• Strengthen collaboration among researchers and governments

• Provide science-based recommendations for sustainable management

The Geese Working Group aims to ensure long-term population stability through coordinated research, policy engagement, and sustainable use frameworks.