International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of...

InternationalSingle Species Action Planfor the Conservation of the

Great Snipe

Gallinago media

Technical Series No. 5

UNEP / AEWA Secretariat

© Klaus Nigge

AEWA Technical Series No. 5

1 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Great Snipe

AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF

AFRICAN-EURASIAN MIGRATORY WATEBIRDS

INTERNATIONAL

SINGLE SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF

THE GREAT SNIPE

Gallinago media

November 2004

Prepared with financial support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries,

The Netherlands


International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Great Snipe 3

Contents Foreword…………………………………………………………………………...5 Preface………………………………………………………………………….….8 Summary…………………………………………………………………….……..9 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………....11 2. Biological assessment……………………………………………….………....13 3. Human activities………………………………………………………….…....16 4. Policies and legislation……………………………………………...………....20 5. Framework for action……………………………………………………….....23 6. Action by country…………………………………………………………...…26 7. Implementation………………………………………………………………...31 Glossary …………………………………………………………….…………....34 Key references……………………………………………………………..….….35 Appendix I Identified European and African Important Bird Areas (IBAs) …….….………..37 Appendix II Signatory countries for International Conventions.…………………………..…..39 Appendix III List of contributors.…………………………………………………………...….41



Foreword by

Eladio Fernández-Galiano Head of Natural Heritage and Biological Diversity Division

Council of Europe

Species Action Plans and Species Recovery Plans are one of the most important tools in conservation of biological diversity. By focussing the attention on the fate and problems of a particular threatened species, many other issues come to light: the effects that agriculture, urban development or pollution are having on nature, the interconnection of species, habitats and management, and the complexities of ecological processes. In a time where most conservation efforts in Europe are faithfully devoted to habitat protection in the hopeful wish that it will automatically yield species conservation, looking at the precise case of some species is highly revealing and can tell us where to address in priority scarce conservation resources.

The conservation community recognises the valuable approach on species conservation that led to the US “Endangered Species Act” and the World Conservation Union “action plans” promoted by the Species Survival Commission. In Europe we succeeded in setting European standards for species action plans through the adoption, by the Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats) of its “Recommendation No. 59 (1997) on the drafting and implementation of action plans for wild fauna species”. This recommendation established standards for the legal and administrative aspects of action plans, for the identification of species requiring special conservation attention, for the technical aspects related to the drafting of action plans (contents, goals, priorities, funding) and for their monitoring and update.

One of the key issues of action plans is the need for international co-operation. Conservation of most species has at present become transboundary and one of the reasons why collaboration between government, international conventions and NGOs is the key to success.

It is in this context that I am particularly glad to welcome the publication of the Species Action Plans for Sociable Lapwing, Great Snipe and Black-winged Pratincole, which are a joint effort of BirdLife International, the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterfowl Agreement (AEWA) and the Bern Convention. Other organisations such as the European Commission, the Ramsar Convention and the Protocol concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas of the Barcelona Convention will also play an important role in the implementation of these plans.

For the Bern Convention, these three plans adopted in 2003 have followed 45 other action plans adopted since 1996 on other bird species the implementation of which is monitored by a special expert group set up by the Standing Committee to the Convention.

It is my firm belief that all this detailed technical and political work is serving to guide action on the ground and is helping many governments takes the sometimes-hard decisions needed.

Eladio Fernández-Galiano Bern Convention Secretariat



Foreword by

Bert Lenten Executive Secretary

Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) The African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is one of the youngest intergovernmental treaties, which was concluded in 1995 and entered into force on 1st November 1999. The Agreement has an ambitious goal to provide protection to and maintain in a favourable conservation status populations of 235 species of migratory birds ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle, including many species of pelicans, storks, flamingos, swans, geese, ducks, waders, gulls, terns and others. All together 117 countries fall within the Agreement area and so far 48 Contracting Parties throughout Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa have acceded to AEWA. International Single Species Action Plans (SSAPs) are being developed to find out more about populations of species with an unfavourable conservation status throughout their whole range, to identify underlying threats and more importantly to roster all necessary conservation measures in a systematic and structured way. This information is crucial to tackle the problems that have caused and are still causing decline of these species and to allow action to be taken to improve their status in the long term. Such International SSAPs for the most threatened species or populations are required by article 2.2.1 of the Agreement’s Action Plan and can only be developed and effectively implemented in close cooperation with Governments, Intergovernmental Organisations and NGOs. These International Single Species Action Plans for the Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius, the Great Snipe Gallinago media and the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni have been elaborated in conjunction with the Bern Convention and BirdLife International. This is the first set of officially released SSAPs for species listed in AEWA Table 1, and all three plans were adopted under Resolution 2.13 at the Second Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA in Bonn, 25-27 September 2002. The Sociable Lapwing, the Great Snipe and the Black-winged Pratincole have been identified as birds that show a significant long-term decline and are therefore in need of special attention. They share similar breeding habitat requirements and are subject to similar threats, i.e. habitat loss and degradation due to conversion of their habitats to intensive agriculture, predation and human disturbance. The Sociable Lapwing is the most threatened of the three species. For a long time it has been listed on the IUCN Red List in the category “Vulnerable”, and is in AEWA Table 1, Column A under Category 1a, 1b and 1c. This list indicates that the species is included in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, is listed as threatened in Threatened Birds of the World (BirdLife International 2000) and that the population numbers less than about 10,000 individuals. Recently, due to its rapidly worsening population status it was reclassified in the category “Critically Endangered” of the IUCN Red List. I strongly believe that the Range States involved will make every effort to implement these SSAPs, that they will transform them into National Action Plans and will work together to halt the decline in the populations of these species in the future. I very much hope that the measures described in these plans will be implemented in reality, and will trigger the recovery of the populations of these three bird species to a favourable conservation status.

Bert Lenten UNEP/ AEWA Secretariat



Foreword by

Canan Orhun Head of European Division Office

BirdLife International

Biodiversity, including bird species, is continuing to decline at an accelerating rate. We need to work along different lines that include the establishment of an effective network of protected sites, integrate environment conservation in all relevant policies and improve awareness of the importance of biodiversity. Only with the correct information on each species’ biology and on the causes of its decline, is it possible to define adequate conservation activities for each one. Species action plans are the tools for gathering information, identifying actions and targets we need to achieve to allow the next generation to enjoy at least the same level of biodiversity we do. BirdLife International has been developing and promoting the species action plans since 1995 when the first plans were developed with the financial support of the European Union and were endorsed and published by the Council of Europe. BirdLife International always works in cooperation with international treaties in the development and endorsement of the species action plans. The Bern Convention, Bonn Convention (CMS), African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the European Union are the fora for cooperation resulting in commitments by national governments and NGOs to translate the documents into concrete conservation actions. The development of the actions plans for the Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius, the Great Snipe Gallinago media and the Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni have been possible thanks to the support given to BirdLife International by AEWA and the co-operation of the Bern Convention. We are most grateful to both for this. The plans have been drawn up through an extensive consultation of experts across the geographical scope of the documents and specific workshops. The format of these action plans is different from the format of those developed in the past. This new format results in documents which are more results-oriented and where the tasks are more clearly linked to threats and targets and set against a clear calendar. BirdLife International is working with AEWA, the Bern Convention and the European Union to streamline the endorsement and monitoring of the implementation of the action plans and promote cooperation and synergies between Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations. I am confident that these action plans, like those developed in the last nine years, will soon yield results. BirdLife International, in cooperation with AEWA and several other supporters is already working on the ground implementing the Sociable Lapwing action plan, and hopes that others will join to implement the most urgent actions for all threatened species.

Canan Orhun BirdLife International



Preface This International Action Plan for the Great Snipe Gallinago media was commissioned by BirdLife International. It has been compiled by John Atle Kålås, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, and is based on a workshop held in Tartu, Estonia from 22-23 February 2002, and on comments given by ORNIS committee members for range states in the EU, by the Bern Convention, government officials outside EU, BirdLife partners and a number of other people who have kindly shared their knowledge with us (see Annex III). We would also like to mention the importance of the support given by OMPO for the development of knowledge about the Great Snipe in Lithuania, Estonia and Belarus during the last five years. Financial support for the preparation of this Action Plan was given by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). The content and structure of this document is based on guidelines given by BirdLife International, and the Dark-Bellied Brent Goose Action Plan developed in 2000 has been used as a model.



Summary What is the profile of the Great Snipe?

At present the Great Snipe breeds in two separate areas: a western population in the Scandinavian Mountains and an eastern population from Poland throughout the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus and the boreal areas and bush-tundra areas in Russia eastwards to the Yenisey River in Siberia. It winters, with several stopover sites, in tropical Africa and seems to have a rapid spring and autumn migration with a few short stopovers between African wintering areas and the breeding sites. The population declined dramatically at the end of the 19th and in the first half of the 20th century, when the species disappeared from the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland and the lowlands of Sweden and Norway. During the same period there was also a considerable population reduction in Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus and in Russia (best documented for the southern parts). The western breeding population (Scandinavian Mountains) seems now to be stabilising and is roughly estimated to hold 6,000 - 17,000 ‘pairs’. The population in Poland and the Baltic is estimated to be 1,600 - 2,300 ‘pairs’, and the Belarus population estimate is 4,600 - 6,000 ‘pairs’. Many structural changes in the agricultural practices in these areas are currently causing a major threat to this fraction of the population. The Russian population is roughly estimated to be more than 250,000 ‘pairs’. The information about population size and population changes for the Russian population is very fragmented, but the southern part of this population is apparently experiencing a continued decline (Tomkovich 1992). The Great Snipe is currently classified as "Near Threatened" at global level (BirdLife International 2004). At European level it is considered ‘Declining’ and classified as SPEC 1 (“European species of global conservation concern”) (BirdLife International 2004). The species is listed in Annex I of the European Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), indicating that the species “shall be the subject of special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution”, and that “Member states shall classify in particular the most suitable territories in number and size as special protection areas for the conservation of these species, taking into account their protection requirements in the geographical sea and land areas where this Directive applies”. It is listed in Annex II of the Bonn Convention (“species which would benefit from international co-operation in their conservation and management”). In the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) the Scandinavian Great Snipe population is listed in Table 1, column B under category 1, while the eastern population is categorised in column B under category 2c, which requires: ‘Parties to regulate any taking so that it is sustainable, in order to maintain and restore the population to a favourable conservation status and more in general request special attention for the species because the population showing significant long-term decline’. The Great Snipe is listed in Annex II (“take appropriate and necessary measures for the conservation of the habitats of the species”) of the Bern Convention.

Why an International Action Plan for the Great Snipe?

The population of the Great Snipe is not directly threatened at present. However, it would be classified as "Vulnerable" at a global level if the current decline continues. The AEWA B1 status for the western population and B2c for the eastern population indicate that it needs special attention, particularly so because it is a habitat specialist dependent upon open areas with a rich food supply for breeding: areas where a conflict with human activities easily occurs.

What is the basis of the Action Plan?

This Action Plan is the result of an extensive consultation process among specialists, including a workshop with ten participants from seven countries held in Tartu, Estonia from 22-23 February 2002, and communication with ORNIS Committee members for each range state in the EU, as well as with the Bern Convention, AEWA Technical Committee members, government officials outside the EU and BirdLife Partners. Since there are important gaps in our knowledge about the Great Snipe’s population biology (e.g. details about the breeding range, population size, migration habits, wintering range) and ecology (e.g. habitat use and diet, particularly outside the breeding season), one of the most important



actions proposed here is the gathering of relevant knowledge, so that later reviews of this Action Plan can be more focused on the most important direct conservation activities.

What is the objective of the Action Plan?

The general objective of the Plan is to permit the Great Snipe to reach a level of population that will remove the species from the "Near threatened" category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. In this first phase it implies putting a stop to the population decline in areas where the species still occurs.

What does the Action Plan consist of?

The Action Plan presents a framework for management and conservation of habitats and the population. Measurable objectives are set at national and international level, and general management options are given for the countries where the species at present breeds. The Great Snipe is a secretive species and we still lack significant knowledge about the population biology of the species. This Action Plan, therefore, also includes a list of gaps in our knowledge, which need to be filled to achieve an optimal management of the species.

Which countries are involved?

Implementation of the Action Plan requires effective international co-ordination of organisation and action. In this Action Plan the countries where breeding occurs (Norway, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia) are especially involved with the implementation. The countries visited during migration and wintering are dealt with more generally. Where migration is concerned (approx. 50 countries) this is because of the apparently low importance of stopover sites during migration; where wintering is concerned (approx. 35 countries) this is because of the general lack of detailed information about winter occurrence, movements and winter habitat use.

What should these countries do?

There should be a commitment from all individual range states to develop their own National Action Plans. These should describe management activities based on the actions laid out in this International Action Plan.

How should the Action Plan be implemented?

A Working Group under the AEWA Technical Committee should be established to implement the Action Plan. Activities mandated to the working group are listed. The plan was formally adopted at the Second Session of the Meeting of the Parties, which took place from 26-28 September 2002 in Bonn, Germany, and at the 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, which took place from 1-4 December 2003 in Strasbourg, France. The Plan will be reviewed every three years.



1. Introduction The Great Snipe Gallinago media has for several years been a Red List species that is highly ranked in a number of international conventions and agreements. This implies that specific management requirements are necessary for the Great Snipe and UNEP/AEWA Secretariat has asked BirdLife International to prepare an international conservation plan for this species. This Action Plan briefly describes and evaluates the ecological status and the political and legislation status of the species throughout its geographical range. It focuses on the possibilities for ensuring the quantity and quality of suitable habitats (particularly during breeding) and the reduction of direct negative influence caused by people (hunting, agricultural activity, etc.). One of the main problems in developing an Action Plan for the Great Snipe is the lack of knowledge about the ecology of the species. Because this Action Plan has to be based on available knowledge, we are unable to be as specific as we would like to be. This applies particularly to the migration and wintering conditions. We also include in this Action Plan, therefore, a list of the knowledge we lack, but which is needed to develop an optimal management plan for the Great Snipe. The successful conservation management of the Great Snipe is the joint and equal responsibility of the governments in the breeding countries, the countries visited during migration and the countries used during wintering. Effective conservation of the population requires the involvement of a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations in all the range countries. International co-operation is required in the implementation of all aspects of the Action Plan. The general objective of this International Action Plan is: In the short term (3 years):

1. To maintain the population of the Great Snipe at a level that will guarantee it long-term conservation in all its present range.

2. To increase knowledge about the Great Snipe (e.g. habitat use, breeding range and population size particularly for the eastern population, and migration and wintering conditions), in order to increase the effectiveness of the reviewed version of the Great Snipe Action Plan to be produced in 2005.

In the long-term (15 years): 1. To restore the population to a level that will remove the species from the “Near Threatened”

category.

In order to reach this objective, the following principles need to be applied: 1. To ensure international co-operation between the range states in joint programmes of monitoring,

research, conservation, management, utilisation and liaison for the benefit of the Great Snipe, their habitats, and the human populations with which the snipe comes into contact or whose habitat it shares.

2. To control and reduce all human activities which negatively affect the species and its habitat. 3. To fulfil all legal and other relevant obligations, such as the obligations taken up in European

legislation (especially the Birds Directive) and international conventions.

The Plan presents operational and measurable objectives, and management options to achieve these objectives. It is a framework to ensure the coherence of, and communication about, the national plans. The framework leaves room for manoeuvre for the range states to tune their management policy to the national situation, as long as the objectives are achieved. The success of the Action Plan to a large extent depends on:

1. The efforts of the range states to draw up and communicate National Action Plans. 2. Implementation aspects such as: a time frame for monitoring and evaluation and for the

communication of progress and activities in the different range states, and insight into budgetary consequences.



3. Organisational matters such as: a clear vision of the role of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) Technical Committee, and a decision on the potential establishment of a new working group in this committee.

The Plan applies to a period of three years, after which it should be evaluated and reviewed.



2. Biological Assessment of the Great Snipe

General information

The Great Snipe Gallinago media is a medium-sized migratory wader species that winters in tropical Africa. It is a lekking species that breeds along the tree line in the Scandinavian mountains, and in boreal and bush tundra areas from eastern Poland eastwards to the Yenisey River in Russia. It is a food and habitat specialist that needs relatively open and base-rich habitats with high biomass of invertebrates during the breeding season. The stringent breeding habitat demands make the species’ distribution scattered and also vulnerable to environmental changes.

Population development

The species experienced a dramatic population decline in the period ca. 1850 – 1930, most strongly pronounced in the western part of the breeding range. This was probably due to habitat change brought about by industrial development, changes in agricultural practices and traditional harvesting in lekking arenas (Kålås et al. 1997b). After 1950 the western population, now restricted to areas along the tree line in the Scandinavian mountains, seems to have stabilised, while the population reduction seems to have continued in the eastern range, particularly in the southern and western parts.

Distribution throughout the annual cycle

Birds leave wintering areas from April to May and the southern breeding birds seems to go directly to breeding grounds where lekking starts in late April. The most northern breeding birds probably use more southern/lowland roosting sites while waiting for the breeding areas to become available in early-mid June. Adult birds start leaving their breeding areas in early August, and the juveniles leave in late August/early September. During the autumn migration most birds seem to travel quite rapidly back to tropical Africa, with a few short stopovers along the migration route (Devort & Paloc 1994, Meltofte 1993). During the winter most birds stay in inland Africa where they have several stopovers, following the rainy season as it progress southwards, resulting in the use of a large percentage of tropical Africa.

Survival and productivity

The annual survival rate for adult birds seems to be relatively high (0.6 – 0.7 for a 1987-1996 sample from Norway (Fiske et al. manuscript)). Production is probably quite variable (20-40 % young recruits in the breeding population in a sample from Norway 1987-2001 (Kålås unpubl.)), probably due to: i) fluctuating predator pressure related to small mammal (lemming) cycles in the western population and the northern part of the eastern population, and ii) fluctuating weather condition (e.g. dry weather makes food less available, flooding may destroy nests).



Life history

Breeding: A lekking species where males perform a very energetic demanding display in lekking arenas (Höglund et al. 1992), which females visit only to copulate (Höglund & Alatalo 1995). The female alone cares for chicks, feeding them during their first days of life. Their behaviour and habitat use during breeding makes them difficult to detect (Kålås 2000). Clutch size: 4, incubation period: 22-24 days, fledging period: ca. 25 days Feeding: Almost entirely invertebrates. In breeding areas the lekking males demand large quantities of high-quality food (Höglund et al. 1992), and earthworms are the main food item, at least for the western population and for the south-western part of the eastern population (Løfaldli et al.1992, Kuresoo & Luigujõe unpubl.). Adult insects and larvae (e.g. Diptera and Coleoptera) are also eaten to some extent. There is no information available about winter food. Migration and Wintering: Wintering in tropical Africa. Few extensively used stopover areas between wintering and breeding grounds are known. Is thought to travel by a fairly direct route between tropical Africa and the breeding grounds, particularly during spring migration (Devort & Paloc 1994). Most birds seem to leave Africa in April-early May, and the adult birds return to Africa in the second half of August, while the juveniles seem appear to arrive in early September (Devort 2000). We have only fragmented information about wintering habits. However, the Great Snipe seems to have several stopovers, appearing in ca. 35 countries in tropical Africa covering a belt from Senegal and southern Mali, eastwards to Ethiopia and Kenya and southwards to Zimbabwe, northern Namibia and Botswana. The Ethiopian plateau grasslands seem to be very important for a large percentage of the eastern population, for a two-month period after the birds have arrived in Africa (Massoli-Novelli 1988). Birds seem to follow the wet areas as the rainy season progresses, resulting in the utilisation of the northernmost wintering areas during early and late wintering and the southern areas during mid wintering (Massoli-Novelli 1988, Devort 2000). Moult data from Africa also indicate that there are two distinct populations (with different moult schedule), which also differ in their use of areas in Africa (Devort 2000).

Habitat requirements

Breeding habitat: The western population inhabits open and base-rich habitats along the tree line(Kålås et al. 1997b), while the eastern population inhabits floodplains, rich fen and meadows in south, and rich fen and shrub areas northwards into the bush tundra (Kålås et al. 1997a). Do often feed in open bush habitats with sedge and grass, but when the soil becomes dry and the earthworms less active, they have to change to more open fen habitats, which are usually damper. During the lekking period males feed close to the lekking arena, while females, with or without chicks, feed in a more scattered manner (Kålås et al. unpubl.). The same kind of feeding habitats are used during the whole breeding season, both for adults and juveniles. Nests are situated in habitats similar to those used for feeding (Løfaldli et al. 1992). Autumn and winter: Solitary, or in small scattered flocks during migration and in winter. The few birds that are observed annually in southern Europe during migration inhabit mainly sedge marshes and meadows. In eastern Europe, birds are also observed along water reservoirs, in rice-fields and in dried fishponds. During winter mainly in marshes and slightly damp short sedge and grass areas. They are also difficult to detect during migration and winter because of cryptic behaviour and the use of habitats with dense ground vegetation (sedge and grass).

The geographical distribution of the Great Snipe during the year

Breeding Formerly breeding

Migrates through (April-May and August-September):

Winters (early September – early May, the most northern countries early and late in this period and the southern countries in mid-winter):

Russia Ukraine Belarus Estonia Latvia Lithuania Poland Sweden Norway

Finland Denmark Germany

Principally all countries situated between the breeding range and the wintering range (e.g. all countries in Mid- and Southern Europe, The countries surrounding the Caspian Sea, The Middle East and Northern Africa. See also Annex II).

Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameron, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa (see also Annex II)

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. Mon

gin

pers

. com

.); U

krai

ne (G

. Gav

ris p

ers.

com

.); R

ussi

a (V

. Mor

ozov

& S

. Fok

in p

ers.

com

.).

* - M

igra

tion

gene

rally

incl

udes

all

coun

tries

(ca.

50)

situ

ated

bet

wee

n br

eedi

ng a

reas

and

trop

ical

Afr

ica.

**

- W

inte

ring

incl

udes

ca.

35

coun

tries

in tr

opic

al A

fric

a co

verin

g a

belt

from

sou

ther

n Se

nega

l ea

stw

ards

to E

thio

pia

and

Ken

ya m

ainl

y us

ed in

ear

ly a

nd la

te w

inte

ring,

and

so

uthw

ards

to Z

imba

bwe

and

north

ern

Nam

ibia

and

Bot

swan

a.




3. Human Activities This chapter gives an overview of human activities potentially affecting the Great Snipe population and their relevance by country. Human activities potentially affecting the Great Snipe population can be subdivided into three categories:

1. Those potentially directly affecting the Great Snipe population. 2. Those affecting the quantity of the habitat (e.g. land claims for urban and industrial

developments and agricultural practices). 3. Those affecting the quality of the habitat (e.g. agricultural practices deterioration and

contamination). Concerning influence of human activities on the breeding conditions for the Great Snipe the population can generally be divided into two parts: i) the southern and particularly the south-western part of the eastern population inhabiting floodplains and meadows, and ii) the Scandinavian and the northern part of the Russian population inhabiting fen and open shrub habitats. Generally speaking it is the first group which is strongly influenced by human activity and which seems to be under immediate threat, while the last group seems to be under less threat by human activity at present. Factors affecting the species (increasing mortality) Hunting The behaviour of the birds makes them very easy to catch while lekking. The species is therefore particularly vulnerable to such harvesting, and this may have accelerated the dramatic population decrease during the first part of the last century. Such harvesting seems to have ceased for the moment. The short flushing distance and short straight-line flight of the birds when flushed makes them also vulnerable to hunting during migration and wintering. The species is legally protected in all breeding countries with the exception of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus. In Russia the annual bag is estimated at 32,000 birds (80% of which are juveniles) (Sergei Fokin pers. com.), which seems to represent a limited proportion of the breeding population. No bag statistic is available for Ukraine and Belarus. The species is also hunted in Africa and shooting pressure is reported to be high for some areas (locally). The total effect by hunting in Africa is unknown, but at present it is probably of restricted importance. The Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago hunting can result in some accidental mortality of Great Snipes at the beginning of the hunting season (August and early September). The numbers of foreigner hunters in Eastern Europe aiming at Common Snipes are increasing and these accidents may increase as a result. Lead shot have been found in Common Snipe stomachs and may represent a threat to the Great Snipe too. No data are available, however, since no stomach contents from wintering/passage areas with high hunting pressure have ever been analysed. Disturbance from tourism/recreation Recreational activities (e.g. tourism, fishing) may interfere with lekking birds and disturb breeding birds. This seems to be most likely in southern Russia and Ukraine. In Russia pointer-dog training and competitions during the breeding season can also have an effect. Predation Human activities in breeding areas can increase the level of predation by facilitating the discovery of nests or increasing the number of predators on nests and chicks (American Mink, foxes, crows, cats,




etc.). In some areas predation pressure is also increased by the presence of introduced alien predators (e.g. American Mink, Racoon Dog). Factors affecting habitat quantity (habitat loss) Agricultural activity. The relationship between the Great Snipe and human activities is not exclusively negative. As the species needs open fertile areas for breeding, specific types of agricultural activity seem to facilitate breeding conditions (e.g. grazing of floodplain meadows, low grazing pressure in mountain areas) (Løfaldli et al. 1992, Kuresoo & Luigujõe 2000). However, areas more intensively used for agriculture seem to be avoided by breeding Great Snipes. Land abandonment. Floodplains were traditionally used for hay mowing and low intensity grazing. These activities maintained the ideal habitat for the Great Snipe. However, economic and political changes have resulted in many areas being abandoned resulting in floodplains being invaded by bushes and, more recently, by forest. This is currently happening in the Baltic States and Poland, but less so in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Fire. In some meadows fires are started in late spring to promote the growth of new fresh grass. Although lekking birds seem very robust to such disturbance and resilient from moving to new sites, the burning of large areas may reduce nesting opportunities. Change of land use. In the future, when the economic situation makes agriculture more profitable again, floodplains may be drained and transformed into land for intensive agriculture, and therefore loss of suitable habitat for the species. Intensive grazing would also result in the destruction of nests and/or chicks, as well as changes in vegetation composition and structure. The intensification of agriculture was probably the main reason for the extinction of the species in Germany and Denmark. Pesticide and fertilisers. Crop protection products are not used in Great Snipe areas, but pesticides and fertilisers from flooding rivers may affect food availability (e.g. earthworms) or promote the growth of bushes on floodplains. Drainage and flood control. The water regime is the main factor regulating the floodplains. Drainage and flood-control operation result in habitat loss. In accession countries EU SAPARD funds are available and used for flood control and “improvements” including drainage and degradation of the floodplains as Great Snipe habitats. Peat extraction often includes drainage and such draining may also make an area unsuitable for the Great Snipe. Hydropower development. Small-scaled dams for hydropower stations on rivers will have dramatic effects on floodplains. In the Baltic States it is not currently possible, but there are plans to start such activities. In Russia, many hydropower stations in lowland are no longer profitable, and there are plans to dismantle them. In Scandinavia, the energy policy is currently focussed on other energy sources (wind farms, oil, gas), but the construction of new dams would have an impact on the species’ habitat. Urban, industrial and tourist development. Riversides are popular for housing and for industrial development. This has an impact both on the extent of the floodplains and on the flood regimes and therefore on the floodplains nearby. The development of skiing resorts and their infrastructure (e.g. ski lifts) in Norway and Sweden may result in habitat loss. Afforestation. Floodplains are under potential threats from afforestation. SAPARD plans for Latvia include funds for transformation of non-profitable agricultural areas into forest. Floodplains may be considered as such land. Poland is subsidising afforestation, and the problem may also develop in Lithuania and Estonia. In this latter country willow (Salix sp.) plantations, located along the rivers, are being tested for economical sustainability.



Transport infrastructure. The development of roads and railways built on floodplains will results in their destruction. The crossing of rivers may also result in changes in the hydrological regime of the rivers immediately upstream. Local problems are recorded in Poland and the Baltic states, but they may also occur elsewhere. Oil and gas extraction/exploitation and transport. The search for fossil fuels and their extraction in Northern Russia would result in habitat loss, although the impact on the species’ habitat and population seems to be limited. Along the coast in Lithuania the oil industry has potential for development, and may therefore become a threat to the habitat and population. Pollution from transport accidents (e.g. oil leaking from pipes) would have effects whose importance would be in relation to the location (e.g. near rivers) and quantity of oil spilled. Habitat management conflict. Management policies for different species may create conflicts among the different species using the wet meadows. Managers should be aware of such conflicts, and management needs to take into consideration the total biodiversity of the managed areas. Climate change. Climate changes resulting in an elevation of the tree-line in Scandinavia will dramatically reduce the area of suitable habitat for this population. The same will be the case for the Russian bush tundra population if the tree line moves northwards. A reduction of meadows because of a potential increase in forest cover would also dramatically affect the amount of suitable habitats for the Great Snipe. For the floodplains the winter floods are predicted to come early, so the soil will become too dry during breeding time and food will no longer be available when the Great Snipe need it for production of chicks. Factors affecting habitat quality (habitat degradation) Agricultural practices. Hay mowing carried out by machines results in large areas of meadows suddenly becoming no longer suitable for the species, and may significantly increase predation rate. A high density of grazing animals may destroy a significant number of nests and small chicks by trampling them.

Hum

an a

ctiv

itie

s af

fect

ing

the

Gre

at S

nipe

pop

ulat

ion

and

thei

r re

leva

nce

by c

ount

ry

H -

Hig

h re

leva

nce,

S -

Som

e re

leva

nce,

N -

No

rele

vanc

e, P

h –

Pot

entia

lly h

igh

rele

vanc

e, P

s –

Pot

entia

lly

som

e re

leva

nce,

( )

– c

once

rn th

e so

uthe

rn p

art o

f the

Rus

sian

po

pula

tion.

H

uman

act

ivit

ies

Nor

way

Sw

eden

P

olan

d E

ston

ia

Lat

via

Lit

huan

ia

Ukr

aine

B

elar

us

Rus

sia

Mig

rati

on*

Win

teri

ng**

1. E

ffec

ts o

n th

e sp

ecie

s

Hun

ting

N

N

N

N

N

N

S S

S S

S A

ccid

enta

lly sh

ot d

urin

g hu

ntin

g of

oth

er sp

ecie

s N

N

N

S

S S

S Ps

Ps

S

Ps

Agr

icul

tura

l act

iviti

es k

ill c

hick

s/de

stro

y ne

sts/

incr

ease

pr

edat

ion

rate

N

N

S

S S

S H

S

(S)

N

N

Dis

turb

ance

A.

Tour

ism

/Rec

reat

iona

l use

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

N

(S)

? ?

B

Dog

trai

ning

/com

petit

ions

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

S

(S)

N

N

Pred

ator

s fac

ilita

ted

by h

uman

s (A

mer

ican

Min

k,

Rac

oon

Dog

, fox

es, c

ats,

crow

s, et

c.)

S S

S S

S S

S S

(S)

? ?

2. A

ffec

ting

the

quan

tity

of h

abita

ts

?

? A

gric

ultu

ral d

evel

opm

ent

A

. La

nd a

band

onm

ent

S S

H

H

H

H

S,P

S,P

(H)

B.

Inte

nsifi

catio

n

N

N

Ph

Ph

Ph

S,Ph

Ph

Ph

(P

h)

Aff

ores

tatio

n N

N

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

N

N

N

D

rain

age

and

flood

con

trol

N

N

S,Ph

S,

Ph

S,Ph

S,

Ph

S,Ph

S,

Ph

(S,P

h)

Hyd

ropo

wer

dev

elop

men

t Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

(P

s)

Infr

astru

ctur

al d

evel

opm

ent (

e.g.

tran

spor

t) N

N

Ps

S

Ps

Ps

S S

(Ps)

U

rban

and

indu

stria

l dev

elop

men

t N

N

S

S S

S S

S (S

)

R

ecre

atio

nal d

evel

opm

ent (

e.g.

cab

ins,

ski l

ifts)

S

S N

N

N

N

S

N

N

Oil

and

gas e

xplo

itatio

n (a

nd tr

ansp

ort)

N

N

N

N

N

P S

N

S

Po

tent

ial e

ffec

ts o

f clim

atic

cha

nge

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

Ph

3. A

ffec

ting

the

qual

ity o

f hab

itats

?

? A

gric

ultu

ral p

ract

ices

S

S S,

Ph

H

H

H

H

H

(H)

Use

of f

ertil

iser

and

pes

ticid

es

N

N

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

(Ps)

C

onta

min

atio

n su

ch a

s oil

spill

s, le

ad sh

ot, c

hem

ical

po

llutio

n, e

tc.

N

N

S S

S S

S S

(S)

Det

erio

ratio

n fr

om h

uman

act

iviti

es (a

s men

tione

d in

ca

tego

ries 1

and

2 in

or n

ear h

abita

ts

S S

S S

S S

S S

S

Con

flict

ing

natu

re m

anag

emen

t goa

ls

N

N

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

Ps

(Ps)

*M

igra

tion

gene

rally

incl

udes

all

coun

tries

(ca.

50)

situ

ated

bet

wee

n br

eedi

ng a

reas

and

trop

ical

Afr

ica.

**

Win

terin

g in

clud

es c

a. 3

5 co

untri

es in

trop

ical

Afr

ica

cove

ring

a be

lt fr

om s

outh

ern

Sene

gal e

astw

ards

to E

thio

pia

and

Ken

ya m

ainl

y us

ed in

ear

ly a

nd la

te w

inte

ring,

and

so

uthw

ards

to Z

imba

bwe

and

north

ern

Nam

ibia

and

Bot

swan

a.



4. P

olic

ies

and

legi

slat

ion

rele

vant

for

the

man

agem

ent

of t

he G

reat

Sni

pe

Bel

ow w

e gi

ve a

n ov

ervi

ew o

f rel

evan

t nat

iona

l and

inte

rnat

iona

l pol

icie

s an

d le

gisl

atio

n. L

egis

latio

n re

gard

ing

fore

stry

and

agr

icul

ture

, etc

. is

not d

iscu

ssed

, al

thou

gh it

may

hav

e a

cons

ider

able

indi

rect

influ

ence

on

the

Gre

at S

nipe

pop

ulat

ion.

In

tern

atio

nal p

olic

ies

and

legi

slat

ion

(for

rele

vant

sig

nato

ry c

ount

ries

see

Ann

ex I

I)

T

itle

W

ork

titl

e Y

ear

Obj

ecti

ve a

nd r

elev

ance

C

onve

ntio

n on

Wet

land

s of I

nter

natio

nal

Impo

rtanc

e es

peci

ally

as W

ater

fow

l Hab

itat

Ram

sar C

onve

ntio

n 19

71

Prev

ent f

urth

er d

estru

ctio

n of

wet

land

hab

itats

by

desi

gnat

ing

wet

land

s for

incl

usio

n on

a li

st o

f “W

etla

nds o

f Int

erna

tiona

l Im

porta

nce”

. C

onse

rvat

ion

and

wis

e us

e of

thes

e w

etla

nds.

Com

pens

ate

for l

oss o

f wet

land

s. C

onsu

ltatio

n ab

out i

mpl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Con

vent

ion.

C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Con

serv

atio

n of

Mig

rato

ry

Spec

ies o

f Wild

Ani

mal

s B

onn

Con

vent

ion/

C

MS

1979

C

once

rted

actio

n fo

r the

con

serv

atio

n an

d ef

fect

ive

man

agem

ent o

f mig

rato

ry sp

ecie

s. C

onsi

sts o

f tw

o ap

pend

ices

: App

endi

x I -

ani

mal

s req

uirin

g st

rict p

rote

ctio

n an

d A

ppen

dix

II -

anim

als f

or

whi

ch a

gree

men

ts n

eed

to b

e m

ade

for t

he c

onse

rvat

ion

and

man

agem

ent o

f the

se sp

ecie

s. A

gree

men

t on

the

Con

serv

atio

n of

Afr

ican

-Eu

rasi

an M

igra

tory

Wat

erbi

rds

AEW

A

1995

A

EWA

is d

evel

oped

und

er th

e B

onn

Con

vent

ion.

The

aim

of A

EWA

is to

take

co-

ordi

nate

d m

easu

res t

o m

aint

ain

mig

rato

ry w

ater

bird

spec

ies i

n a

favo

urab

le c

onse

rvat

ion

stat

us, o

r to

rest

ore

them

to su

ch a

stat

us. A

EWA

stim

ulat

es th

e de

velo

pmen

t of i

nter

natio

nal,

as w

ell a

s nat

iona

l, Si

ngle

Spe

cies

Act

ion

Plan

s.

Con

vent

ion

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of E

urop

ean

Wild

life

and

Nat

ural

Hab

itats

B

ern

Con

vent

ion

1979

C

onse

rvat

ion

of w

ild fl

ora

and

faun

a an

d th

eir n

atur

al h

abita

ts, e

spec

ially

thos

e sp

ecie

s and

hab

itats

w

hose

con

serv

atio

n re

quire

s the

co-

oper

atio

n of

seve

ral s

tate

s. “S

peci

al a

ttent

ion

to b

e gi

ven

to th

e pr

otec

tion

of a

reas

that

are

of i

mpo

rtanc

e fo

r the

mig

rato

ry sp

ecie

s spe

cifie

d in

App

endi

ces I

I and

II

I (in

cl. m

ost b

irds)

and

whi

ch a

re a

ppro

pria

tely

situ

ated

in re

latio

n to

mig

ratio

n ro

utes

as

win

terin

g, st

agin

g, fe

edin

g, b

reed

ing

or m

oulti

ng a

reas

”.

EU C

ounc

il D

irect

ive

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of

Wild

Bird

s EU

Bird

s Dire

ctiv

e 19

79

Con

serv

atio

n of

bird

s and

bird

hab

itats

by

Euro

pean

co-

oper

atio

n. E

stab

lish

netw

ork

of p

rote

cted

ar

eas:

Spe

cial

Pro

tect

ion

Are

as (S

PAs)

. The

Bird

s Dire

ctiv

e la

id th

e fo

unda

tion

for t

he H

abita

ts

Dire

ctiv

e.

EU C

ounc

il D

irect

ive

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of

Nat

ural

Hab

itats

and

of W

ild F

auna

and

Flo

ra

EU H

abita

ts D

irect

ive

1992

Es

tabl

ish

stra

tegi

c ne

twor

k (N

atur

a 20

00) o

f Eur

opea

n H

abita

ts a

nd p

rote

ct th

e m

ost t

hrea

tene

d sp

ecie

s in

Euro

pe. I

mpl

emen

tatio

n be

hind

sche

dule

. Cou

ntrie

s hav

e to

subm

it lis

ts o

f “Sp

ecia

l A

reas

of C

onse

rvat

ion”

(SA

Cs)

. Tw

o an

nexe

s lis

t hab

itat t

ypes

and

spec

ies.

The

artic

le 6

ob

ligat

ions

of t

he H

abita

ts D

irect

ive

also

hav

e to

be

impl

emen

ted

in th

e Sp

ecia

l Pro

tect

ion

Are

as o

f th

e B

irds D

irect

ive.

C

onve

ntio

n on

Bio

logi

cal D

iver

sity

C

BD

19

92

Mai

ntai

n a

sust

aina

ble

dive

rsity

and

spre

ad o

f flo

ra a

nd fa

una

acro

ss th

e w

orld

. Eac

h co

ntra

ctin

g pa

rty sh

all d

evel

op n

atio

nal s

trate

gies

, pla

ns o

r pro

gram

mes

for t

he c

onse

rvat

ion

and

sust

aina

ble

use

of b

iolo

gica

l div

ersi

ty.

NB

: Th

e E

urop

ean

Dir

ectiv

es a

nd in

tern

atio

nal C

onve

ntio

ns c

an h

ave

diffe

rent

lega

l im

plic

atio

ns. T

he s

peci

al le

gal s

tatu

s of

EU

Dir

ecti

ves

mak

es it

pos

sibl

e to

enf

orce

im

plem

enta

tion

thro

ugh

the

Eur

opea

n C

ourt

of J

ustic

e, w

here

as th

e le

gal i

mpl

icat

ions

of C

onve

ntio

ns d

epen

d on

thei

r tr

ansl

atio

n in

to n

atio

nal l

egis

latio

n.



Thr

eat

and

Con

vent

ion

stat

us f

or t

he G

reat

Sni

pe

Glo

bal

Stat

us1

Eur

opea

n St

atus

2 SP

EC

ca

tego

ry2

EU

Bir

ds

Dir

ecti

ve

Ann

ex3

Ber

n C

onve

ntio

n A

nnex

4

Bon

n C

onve

ntio

n A

nnex

5

Afr

ican

-Eur

asia

n M

igra

tory

W

ater

bird

Agr

eem

ent

6

LR

/nt

D

1 I

II II

B1

(Sc

andi

navi

an b

reed

ing

popu

latio

n)

B2c

(Nor

thea

st E

urop

e an

d W

este

rn S

iber

ian

bree

ding

popu

latio

n)

1 B

irdLi

fe In

tern

atio

nal (

2004

). Th

reat

ened

Bir

ds o

f the

Wor

ld 2

004.

CD

-RO

M. C

ambr

idge

, UK

: Bird

Life

Inte

rnat

iona

l. C

ateg

orie

s: E

X =

Ext

inct

; EW

= E

xtin

ct in

th

e W

ild; C

R =

Crit

ical

ly e

ndan

gere

d, E

N =

End

ange

red;

VU

= V

ulne

rabl

e; L

R =

Low

er R

isk,

cd

= co

nser

vatio

n de

pend

ent,

nt =

nea

r thr

eate

ned,

lc =

leas

t con

cern

; D

D =

dat

a de

ficie

nt, N

E =

Not

Eva

luat

ed.

2 Bird

Life

Inte

rnat

iona

l (20

04) B

irds i

n Eu

rope

: pop

ulat

ion

estim

ates

, tre

nds a

nd c

onse

rvat

ion

stat

us. S

econ

d ed

ition

. Wag

enin

gen,

The

Net

herla

nds:

Bird

Life

Inte

rnat

iona

l. (B

irdLi

fe C

onse

rvat

ion

Serie

s No.

12)

. D –

dec

linin

g, E

urop

ean

popu

latio

n de

clin

ed m

oder

atel

y, i.

e. b

y 10

-29%

, dur

ing

1990

-200

0; S

PEC

cat

egor

y 1

– Eu

rope

an sp

ecie

s of

glob

al c

onse

rvat

ion

conc

ern,

i.e.

thos

e cl

assif

ied

as T

hrea

tene

d, N

ear T

hrea

tene

d or

Dat

a D

efic

ient

und

er th

e IU

CN

Red

Lis

t Crit

eria

at g

loba

l lev

el (B

irdLi

fe In

tern

atio

nal

2004

, IU

CN

200

4).

3 The

spec

ies s

hall

be th

e su

bjec

t of s

peci

al c

onse

rvat

ion

mea

sure

s con

cern

ing

thei

r hab

itat i

n or

der t

o en

sure

thei

r sur

viva

l and

repr

oduc

tion

in th

eir a

rea

of

dist

ribut

ion.

4 G

ive

spec

ial a

ttent

ion

to th

e pr

otec

tion

of a

reas

that

are

of i

mpo

rtanc

e (A

rticl

e 4)

and

ens

ure

the

spec

ial p

rote

ctio

n of

the

spec

ies (

Arti

cle

6). F

or m

ore

deta

ils se

e th

e C

onve

ntio

n te

xt.

5 Ani

mal

s for

whi

ch a

gree

men

ts n

eed

to b

e m

ade

for t

he c

onse

rvat

ion

and

man

agem

ent o

f the

se sp

ecie

s. Fo

r mor

e de

tails

see

the

Con

vent

ion

text

. 6 B

1 - p

opul

atio

n nu

mbe

ring

betw

een

ca. 2

5,00

0 an

d ca

. 100

,000

indi

vidu

als;

B2c

– p

opul

atio

n nu

mbe

ring

mor

e th

an c

a. 1

00,0

00 in

divi

dual

s and

con

side

red

to b

e in

ne

ed o

f spe

cial

atte

ntio

n as

a re

sult

of si

gnifi

cant

long

-term

dec

line.



Nat

iona

l pol

icie

s, le

gisl

atio

n an

d on

-goi

ng a

ctiv

itie

s

A –

sig

nific

ant a

ctiv

ity, S

- s

ome

activ

ity,

N -

no

activ

ity,

NA

- n

ot a

pplic

able

, I –

incl

uded

in n

atio

nal R

ed L

ist,

PI

– at

pre

sent

not

incl

uded

, but

pro

pose

d to

be

incl

uded

in th

e na

tion

al R

ed L

ist,

NI

– at

pre

sent

not

incl

uded

in R

ed L

ist,

NH

– n

ot h

unta

ble,

H –

hun

tabl

e, (

) –

con

cern

s a

sign

ifica

nt p

ropo

rtio

n of

the

actu

al c

ount

ries

. N

atio

nal p

olic

ies

affe

ctin

g th

e G

reat

Sni

pe

Nor

way

Sw

eden

P

olan

d E

ston

ia

Lat

via

Lit

huan

ia

Ukr

aine

B

elar

us

Rus

sia

Mig

rati

on*

Win

teri

ng**

Spec

ies

Le

gal p

rote

ctio

n st

atus

I

I I

I I

I PI

PI

N

I (N

I)

(NI)

H

unte

d N

H

NH

N

H

NH

N

H

NH

H

H

H

(H

) (H

) St

art o

f hun

ting

seas

on (d

ate

in b

rack

ets

and

italic

s in

dica

tes s

tart

of h

untin

g se

ason

for

the

Com

mon

Sni

pe)

(10

Sept

.)

(10

Sept

.)

NA

(2

0 A

ug.)

(2

0 A

ug.)

(2

0 A

ug.)

ca

. 15

Aug

. ca

. 20

Jul.

ca. 5

Aug

.

Res

earc

h on

the

spec

ies e

colo

gy

A

A

S A

S

S N

A

N

N

N

In

vent

orie

s S

S S

S S

S S

S N

N

N

R

egul

ar p

opul

atio

n ce

nsus

and

mon

itorin

g N

N

N

N

S

A

N

N

N

N

N

Nat

ural

hab

itats

(pr

opor

tion

of p

opul

atio

n)

100

100

0 15

0

0 0

25

80

Site

pro

tect

ion

S S

NA

S

NA

N

A

NA

N

A

S S

N

Mon

itorin

g us

e of

pro

tect

ed si

tes

N

S N

A

N

NA

N

A

NA

N

A

N

N

N

Sem

i-nat

ural

hab

itats

(pr

opor

tion

of

popu

lati

on)

0 0

100

80

99

75

100

70

20

Site

pro

tect

ion

NA

N

A

S S

S S

S S

S S

N

Mon

itorin

g us

e of

pro

tect

ed si

tes

NA

N

A

N

S S

S N

S

N

N

N

Prom

otio

n of

app

ropr

iate

pol

icie

s (a

gric

ultu

ral)

N

A

NA

N

A

S

S N

S

N

N

N

Man

-mad

e ha

bita

ts (p

ropo

rtio

n of

po

pula

tion

) 0

0 0

5 <1

25

0

5 0

Prom

otio

n of

app

ropr

iate

pol

icie

s N

A

NA

N

A

S N

A

S N

A

S N

A

N

N

Inte

rnat

iona

l co-

oper

atio

n

Reg

ular

inte

rnat

iona

l mee

tings

to d

iscu

ss

rese

arch

and

mon

itorin

g #

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

# Th

e O

MPO

(Mig

rato

ry B

irds o

f the

Wes

tern

Pal

earc

tic) h

as fo

r sev

eral

yea

rs su

ppor

ted

rese

arch

on

snip

es, i

nclu

ding

the

Gre

at S

nipe

, in

Lith

uani

a, E

ston

ia a

nd B

elar

us, a

nd

have

arr

ange

d on

e in

tern

atio

nal w

orks

hop

on th

is to

pic

(OM

PO 2

000)

. *

Mig

ratio

n ge

nera

lly in

clud

es a

ll co

untri

es (c

a. 5

0) si

tuat

ed b

etw

een

bree

ding

are

as a

nd tr

opic

al A

fric

a.

** W

inte

ring

incl

udes

ca.

35

coun

tries

in tr

opic

al A

fric

a, c

over

ing

a be

lt fr

om S

eneg

al e

astw

ards

to E

thio

pia

and

Ken

ya m

ainl

y us

ed in

ear

ly a

nd la

te w

inte

ring,

and

so

uthw

ards

to Z

imba

bwe

and

north

ern

Nam

ibia

and

Bot

swan

a.



5. F

ram

ewor

k fo

r A

ctio

n

The

indi

vidu

al c

ount

ries

in th

e G

reat

Sni

pe g

eogr

aphi

cal r

ange

are

res

pons

ible

for

the

succ

ess

of th

is A

ctio

n P

lan.

Wit

hout

the

com

mit

men

t of t

he R

ange

St

ates

and

all

inte

rest

gro

ups

conc

erne

d, th

e A

ctio

n P

lan

will

rem

ain

inef

fect

ive.

In

this

cha

pter

the

fram

ewor

k of

obj

ecti

ves

and

a lis

t of s

ubje

cts

that

nee

d to

be

take

n up

in th

e N

atio

nal A

ctio

n P

lans

are

pre

sent

ed.

Fra

mew

ork

for

Act

ion

T

he o

vera

ll ge

nera

l obj

ecti

ve

Shor

t te

rm: T

o st

op th

e po

pula

tion

decl

ine

for t

he G

reat

Sni

pe

Lon

g te

rm: T

o ke

ep th

e sp

ecie

s out

of t

he R

ed L

ist

Ope

rati

onal

long

ter

m o

bjec

tive

s

Ensu

re o

ptim

al c

ondi

tions

for

surv

ival

of c

hick

s and

adu

lts

En

sure

suff

icie

nt q

uant

ity

of re

leva

nt h

abita

ts

Ensu

re g

ood

qual

ity o

f rel

evan

t ha

bita

ts

Ensu

re su

ffic

ient

kno

wle

dge

to

optim

ise

futu

re A

ctio

n Pl

ans

T

erm

s of

spe

cifi

cati

on f

or o

bjec

tive

s

Incr

ease

kno

wle

dge

on

num

eric

al d

istri

butio

n an

d st

art m

onito

ring

of

popu

latio

n ch

ange

s

In

crea

se a

nd u

se

know

ledg

e ab

out

hunt

ing

to re

gula

te

hunt

ing

pres

sure

Incr

ease

and

use

kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t ne

eds a

nd d

iet i

n or

der

to id

entif

y ke

y ha

bita

ts

and

deve

lop

man

agem

ent p

ract

ices

Mon

itorin

g of

key

ha

bita

ts

In

vent

ory

and

mon

itorin

g of

key

ar

eas

Dev

elop

hab

itat

man

agem

ent

requ

irem

ents

and

po

ssib

ilitie

s, an

d en

able

thei

r im

plem

enta

tion



Mea

sura

ble

obje

ctiv

es



Incr

ease

kno

wle

dge

on

num

eric

al d

istri

butio

n an

d st

art m

onito

ring

of

popu

latio

n ch

ange

s

In

crea

se a

nd u

se k

now

ledg

e ab

out h

untin

g to

regu

late

hu

ntin

g pr

essu

re

Incr

ease

and

use

kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t ne

eds a

nd d

iet

Mon

itorin

g of

key

ha

bita

ts

Inve

ntor

y an

d m

onito

ring

of k

ey a

reas

D

evel

op h

abita

t m

anag

emen

t req

uire

men

ts

and

poss

ibili

ties a

nd e

nabl

e th

eir i

mpl

emen

tatio

n

W

ithin

thre

e ye

ars e

ach

coun

try sh

ould

: •

Mak

e an

inve

ntor

y of

cu

rrent

dis

tribu

tion

and

popu

latio

n si

ze

• In

itiat

e a

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

mm

e in

clud

ing

popu

latio

n si

ze a

nd

prod

uctio

n •

Iden

tify

and

quan

tify

thre

ats

W

ithin

thre

e ye

ars e

ach

coun

try w

here

hun

ting

is

allo

wed

shou

ld:

• Pr

oduc

e an

nual

bag

stat

istic

s fo

r the

Gre

at S

nipe

, in

clud

ing

win

g co

llect

ion

to

get i

nfor

mat

ion

on v

aria

tion

in fr

actio

n of

adu

lt bi

rds i

n th

e ba

g •

In c

ount

ries w

here

Gre

at

Snip

e ca

n be

acc

iden

tally

ki

lled

by C

omm

on S

nipe

hu

nter

s, ev

alua

te th

e ex

tent

of

this

and

if n

eces

sary

de

lay

star

t of C

omm

on

Snip

e hu

ntin

g se

ason

unt

il th

e be

ginn

ing

of S

epte

mbe

r. H

unte

rs sh

ould

als

o be

‘e

duca

ted’

on

this

topi

c (e

.g.

thro

ugh

info

rmat

ion

book

lets

abo

ut th

e G

reat

Sn

ipe)

With

in th

ree

year

s kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t us

e an

d di

et sh

ould

be

incr

ease

d fo

r: •

Mig

ratin

g bi

rds

• W

inte

ring

bird

s •

The

north

ern

part

of

the

Rus

sian

bre

edin

g po

pula

tion

With

in th

ree

year

s eac

h co

untry

whe

re th

e sp

ecie

s br

eeds

at p

rese

nt sh

ould

: •

Mak

e av

aila

ble

a m

ap

show

ing

the

exte

nt a

nd

dist

ribut

ion

of h

abita

ts

suita

ble

for b

reed

ing

• In

itiat

e m

onito

ring

of

area

cha

nges

of t

he

exte

nt o

f the

se k

ey

habi

tats

With

in th

ree

year

s eac

h co

untry

shou

ld h

ave:

•

An

upda

ted

inve

ntor

y of

key

are

as

• Lo

cate

d an

d de

term

ined

hab

itat

thre

ats t

o ar

eas o

f in

tern

atio

nal

impo

rtanc

e (S

cand

inav

ia, B

elar

us

and

Rus

sia:

1 %

of

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion;

Po

land

, Bal

tic S

tate

s an

d U

krai

ne: 2

0 m

ales

) •

Giv

en in

dica

tions

of

how

to c

onse

rve

or, i

f ne

cess

ary

impr

ove

the

stat

us o

f the

se a

reas

With

in th

ree

year

s eac

h co

untry

shou

ld:

• M

ake

a lis

ting

of

inte

rnat

iona

lly im

porta

nt

area

s tha

t are

thre

aten

ed

by d

egra

datio

n an

d lo

ss,

with

the

aim

of a

naly

sing

po

ssib

ilitie

s of

prev

entin

g th

em

• D

evel

op m

anag

emen

t pl

ans f

or su

ch im

porta

nt

Gre

at S

nipe

are

as

All

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Pla

ns s

houl

d in

clud

e (a

ll ac

tion

s ne

ed t

o ha

ve a

tim

etab

le):

Par

t I:

•

A n

atio

nal s

urve

y of

geo

grap

hica

l dis

tribu

tion

and

num

bers

•

Elab

orat

ion

of m

onito

ring

syst

ems,

incl

udin

g po

pula

tion

size

, pro

duct

ion

and

thre

ats (

see

Cha

pter

7)

• Ev

alua

tion

of th

e ef

fect

s of h

untin

g an

d re

gula

tion

of a

ll hu

ntin

g w

here

this

act

ivity

has

pro

ved

to b

e or

is c

onsi

dere

d un

sust

aina

ble

• A

qua

ntifi

catio

n of

hab

itat u

tilis

atio

n an

d di

et (p

artic

ular

ly re

leva

nt fo

r mig

ratio

n, w

inte

ring

and

for t

he n

orth

ern

Rus

sian

br

eedi

ng p

opul

atio

n)

• M

appi

ng o

f the

dis

tribu

tion

of h

abita

ts su

itabl

e fo

r bre

edin

g an

d in

itiat

ion

of m

onito

ring

of a

rea

chan

ges o

f the

se k

ey

habi

tats

•

Iden

tific

atio

n of

key

site

s (fo

llow

ing

the

IBA

crit

eria

, see

Ann

ex I

) •

A li

st o

f int

erna

tiona

lly im

porta

nt a

reas

that

are

thre

aten

ed b

y de

grad

atio

n an

d lo

ss, w

ith th

e ai

m o

f ana

lysi

ng

poss

ibili

ties f

or p

reve

ntin

g th

eir d

eter

iora

tion

and

deve

lopi

ng m

anag

emen

t pla

ns fo

r suc

h ar

eas

Par

t II

: •

Publ

ic a

war

enes

s and

trai

ning

pla

ns (e

.g. r

elat

ed to

pop

ulat

ion

mon

itorin

g an

d m

anag

emen

t of h

abita

ts)

• Su

rvey

of e

xist

ing

polic

ies a

nd le

gisl

atio

n lik

ely

to h

ave

an im

pact

on

the

spec

ies o

r the

spec

ies'

habi

tat (

see

Cha

pter

4)

• Su

rvey

of r

elev

ant h

uman

act

iviti

es (s

ee C

hapt

er 3

) •

Impl

emen

tatio

n of

mon

itorin

g of

the

Gre

at S

nipe

pop

ulat

ion

and

the

mos

t rel

evan

t thr

eats

to th

e sp

ecie

s •

Surv

ey o

f pre

sent

and

/or e

xpec

ted

thre

ats t

o ar

eas o

f nat

iona

l im

porta

nce

• Pr

opos

ed m

anag

emen

t opt

ions

to d

eal w

ith th

ese

thre

ats (

see

Cha

pter

s 5

and

6)

• O

vera

ll ex

pect

ed e

ffec

ts o

f mea

sure

s tak

en

• A

com

mun

icat

ion

plan

(with

AEW

A, g

over

nmen

tal a

nd n

on-g

over

nmen

tal o

rgan

isat

ions

)



6. A

ctio

n by

cou

ntry

To

ass

ist t

he R

ange

Sta

tes

in d

evel

opin

g th

eir

own

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Pla

ns, i

n th

is c

hapt

er o

bjec

tives

and

man

agem

ent o

ptio

ns a

re p

rese

nted

per

Ran

ge S

tate

. T

he w

este

rn b

reed

ing

popu

lati

on (

Nor

way

& S

wed

en)

Inte

rnat

iona

l O

bjec

tive

P

rior

ity

Nat

iona

l man

agem

ent

opti

ons/

acti

ons

Mea

sura

ble

obje

ctiv

e

Incr

ease

su

rviv

al

Low

•

(No

expl

oita

tion

exis

ts)

Su

ffic

ient

qu

antit

y of

ha

bita

ts

&

good

qua

lity

of h

abita

ts

H

igh

• M

aint

ain

the

curr

ent s

tatu

s of h

abita

t qua

ntity

and

qua

lity

•

Impr

ove

prot

ectio

n st

atus

by

enco

urag

ing

a pr

otec

ted

stat

us fo

r all

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e fo

r the

Gre

at S

nipe

. For

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e th

e st

atus

of S

PA a

ccor

ding

to th

e EU

B

irds D

irect

ive

(if th

e si

te h

osts

pot

entia

l hab

itat f

or th

e sp

ecie

s, th

e si

te h

as to

be

iden

tifie

d as

an

SPA

(Bird

s Dire

ctiv

e))

• D

evel

op a

pro

per m

anag

emen

t sys

tem

for p

rote

cted

site

s, th

roug

h th

e de

velo

pmen

t of m

anag

emen

t pl

ans.

Mea

sure

s sho

uld

be b

alan

ced

with

ove

rall

cons

erva

tion

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

pro

tect

ed a

reas

, the

G

reat

Sni

pe b

eing

one

com

pone

nt a

mon

g ot

hers

in th

e fu

nctio

nal s

yste

m

• Ev

alua

te p

ossi

bilit

ies f

or th

e m

aint

enan

ce a

nd re

cove

ry o

f hab

itats

• Pr

otec

ted

area

s sho

uld

acco

mm

odat

e 10

% o

f the

nat

iona

l br

eedi

ng p

opul

atio

n •

List

ing

of re

leva

nt p

olic

ies a

nd

regu

latio

ns, a

nd a

ctio

ns to

min

imis

e co

nflic

ts w

ith h

uman

act

iviti

es in

fu

ture

•

Inve

ntor

y of

key

site

s and

de

term

inat

ion

of h

abita

t thr

eats

•

Dev

elop

a m

anag

emen

t pla

n,

incl

udin

g lis

ting

of th

reat

ened

site

s an

d m

anag

emen

t nee

ds

Key

kn

owle

dge

need

ed

Hig

h •

Dis

tribu

tion

and

popu

latio

n si

ze

• Po

pula

tion

chan

ges

• D

istri

butio

n of

key

hab

itats

• U

pdat

e di

strib

utio

n m

aps a

nd

natio

nal e

stim

ates

of b

reed

ing

popu

latio

n •

Dev

elop

and

run

mon

itorin

g of

the

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion,

hab

itats

and

th

reat

s •

Map

the

dist

ribut

ion

of k

ey h

abita

ts



The

bor

eal

part

of

the

east

ern

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion

(Pol

and,

Lit

huan

ia, L

atvi

a, E

ston

ia, B

elar

us, U

krai

ne a

nd t

he s

outh

ern

part

s of

the

R

ussi

an F

eder

atio

n)

Inte

rnat

iona

l O

bjec

tive

P

rior

ity

Nat

iona

l man

agem

ent

opti

ons/

acti

ons

Mea

sura

ble

obje

ctiv

e

Incr

ease

su

rviv

al

M

ediu

m •

Stop

all

expl

oita

tion

of th

e w

este

rn p

art o

f thi

s pop

ulat

ion

and

ensu

re n

o ov

er-e

xplo

itatio

n of

the

east

ern

part

of th

e po

pula

tion

• B

an h

untin

g, a

nd if

nee

ded

post

pone

st

art o

f Com

mon

Sni

pe h

untin

g se

ason

unt

il 5

Sept

embe

r A

min

imum

di

stur

banc

e of

th

e bi

rds

M

ediu

m •

Stop

dis

turb

ance

by

Poin

ting

dogs

in th

e br

eedi

ng se

ason

• B

an P

oint

ing

dog

train

ing

and

com

petit

ions

in G

reat

Sni

pe h

abita

ts

in th

e pe

riod

1 M

ay –

1 A

ugus

t Su

ffic

ient

qu

antit

y of

ha

bita

ts

&

good

qua

lity

of

habi

tats

H

igh

• M

aint

ain

or e

nhan

ce th

e cu

rren

t sta

tus o

f hab

itat q

uant

ity a

nd q

ualit

y th

roug

hout

app

ropr

iate

m

anag

emen

t •

Dev

elop

a p

rope

r man

agem

ent s

yste

m fo

r pro

tect

ed si

tes,

thro

ugh

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f man

agem

ent

plan

s. M

easu

res s

houl

d be

bal

ance

d w

ith o

vera

ll co

nser

vatio

n ob

ject

ives

of t

he p

rote

cted

are

as, t

he G

reat

Sn

ipe

bein

g on

e co

mpo

nent

am

ong

othe

rs in

the

func

tiona

l sys

tem

•

Impr

ove

prot

ectio

n st

atus

by

enco

urag

ing

a pr

otec

ted

stat

us fo

r all

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e fo

r th

e G

reat

Sni

pe. F

or si

tes o

f int

erna

tiona

l im

porta

nce

the

stat

us o

f SPA

acc

ordi

ng to

the

EU B

irds

Dire

ctiv

e (if

the

site

hos

ts p

oten

tial h

abita

t for

the

spec

ies,

the

site

has

to b

e id

entif

ied

as a

n SP

A (B

irds

Dire

ctiv

e))

• Ev

alua

te p

ossi

bilit

ies f

or th

e m

aint

enan

ce a

nd re

cove

ry o

f hab

itats

• Pr

otec

ted

area

s sho

uld

for P

olan

d, th

e B

altic

Sta

tes a

nd U

krai

ne

acco

mm

odat

e 50

% a

nd fo

r Bel

arus

25

% o

f the

nat

iona

l bre

edin

g po

pula

tion.

For

Rus

sia

10%

of t

he

sout

hern

bre

edin

g po

pula

tion

shou

ld

be a

ccom

mod

ated

in p

rote

cted

are

as

• Li

stin

g of

rele

vant

pol

icie

s and

re

gula

tions

, and

act

ions

to m

inim

ise

conf

licts

with

hum

an a

ctiv

ities

in

futu

re

• D

evel

op a

man

agem

ent p

lan,

in

clud

ing

listin

g of

thre

aten

ed si

tes

and

man

agem

ent n

eeds

K

ey k

now

ledg

e ne

eded

Hig

h •

Dis

tribu

tion

and

popu

latio

n si

ze

• Po

pula

tion

chan

ges

• D

istri

butio

n of

key

hab

itats

•

Hab

itat u

se a

nd d

iet

• M

anag

emen

t pra

ctic

es

estim

ates

of b

reed

ing

popu

latio

n •

Dev

elop

and

run

mon

itorin

g of

the

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion,

hab

itats

and

th

reat

s •

Inve

ntor

y of

key

site

s and

de

term

inat

ion

of h

abita

t thr

eats

•

Map

the

dist

ribut

ion

of k

ey h

abita

ts

• Im

prov

e kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t use

an

d di

et

• D

evel

op a

nd te

st m

anag

emen

t pr

actic

es



The

bus

h tu

ndra

sec

tion

of

the

east

ern

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion

(nor

ther

n pa

rts

of t

he R

ussi

an F

eder

atio

n)

Inte

rnat

iona

l O

bjec

tive

P

rior

ity

Nat

iona

l man

agem

ent

opti

ons/

acti

ons

Mea

sura

ble

obje

ctiv

e

Incr

ease

su

rviv

al

Med

ium

•

Ensu

re n

o ov

er-e

xplo

itatio

n •

Ensu

re su

stai

nabl

e ha

rves

ting

Su

ffic

ient

qu

antit

y of

ha

bita

ts

&

good

qua

lity

of h

abita

ts

M

ediu

m •

Mai

ntai

n th

e cu

rren

t sta

tus o

f hab

itats

qua

ntity

and

qua

lity

•

Impr

ove

prot

ectio

n st

atus

by

enco

urag

ing

a pr

otec

ted

stat

us fo

r all

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e fo

r the

Gre

at S

nipe

. For

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e th

e st

atus

of S

PA a

ccor

ding

to th

e EU

B

irds D

irect

ive

(if th

e si

te h

osts

pot

entia

l hab

itat f

or th

e sp

ecie

s, th

e si

te h

as to

be

iden

tifie

d as

an

SPA

(Bird

s Dire

ctiv

e))

• Pr

otec

ted

area

s sho

uld

acco

mm

odat

e 10

% o

f the

nat

iona

l br

eedi

ng p

opul

atio

n •

List

ing

of re

leva

nt p

olic

ies a

nd

regu

latio

ns, a

nd a

ctio

ns to

min

imis

e co

nflic

ts w

ith h

uman

act

iviti

es in

fu

ture

•

Inve

ntor

y of

key

site

s and

de

term

inat

ion

of h

abita

t thr

eats

•

Dev

elop

a m

anag

emen

t pla

n,

incl

udin

g lis

ting

of th

reat

ened

site

s an

d m

anag

emen

t nee

ds

Key

kn

owle

dge

need

ed

H

igh

• D

istri

butio

n an

d po

pula

tion

size

•

Popu

latio

n ch

ange

s •

Dis

tribu

tion

of k

ey h

abita

ts

• H

abita

t use

and

die

t

• U

pdat

e di

strib

utio

n m

aps a

nd

estim

ates

of b

reed

ing

popu

latio

n •

Dev

elop

and

run

mon

itorin

g of

the

bree

ding

pop

ulat

ion

(e.g

. bag

st

atis

tics)

, hab

itats

and

thre

ats

• In

vent

ory

of k

ey si

tes a

nd

dete

rmin

atio

n of

hab

itat t

hrea

ts

• M

ap th

e di

strib

utio

n of

key

hab

itats

•

Impr

ove

know

ledg

e on

hab

itat u

se

and

diet



For

mer

bre

edin

g co

untr

ies

(Ger

man

y, D

enm

ark

and

Fin

land

) In

tern

atio

nal

Obj

ecti

ve

Pri

orit

y N

atio

nal m

anag

emen

t op

tion

s/ac

tion

s M

easu

rabl

e ob

ject

ive

Suff

icie

nt

quan

tity

and

qual

ity o

f ha

bita

ts

Lo

w

• En

cour

age

the

re-e

stab

lishm

ent o

f for

mer

bre

edin

g ar

eas o

f the

Gre

at S

nipe

as o

ppor

tuni

ties p

erm

it •

List

ing

of p

olic

ies a

nd re

gula

tions

Key

kno

wle

dge

need

ed

Lo

w

• M

anag

emen

t pra

ctic

es

• D

evel

op a

nd te

st m

anag

emen

t pra

ctic

es

Mig

rati

on c

ount

ries

(ca

. 50

coun

trie

s in

clud

ing

Mid

- an

d So

uthe

rn E

urop

e, t

he c

ount

ries

sur

roun

ding

the

Cas

pian

See

, the

Mid

dle

Eas

t an

d N

orth

Afr

ica.

For

mor

e de

tails

see

Anne

x II

) In

tern

atio

nal

Obj

ecti

ve

Pri

orit

y N

atio

nal m

anag

emen

t op

tion

s/ac

tion

s M

easu

rabl

e ob

ject

ive

Incr

ease

su

rviv

al

M

ediu

m

• St

op e

xplo

itatio

n of

the

wes

tern

pop

ulat

ion

and

the

sout

h w

este

rn p

art o

f the

eas

tern

pop

ulat

ion,

and

ens

ure

no o

ver-

expl

oita

tion

of th

e R

ussi

an p

opul

atio

n •

Ban

Gre

at S

nipe

hun

ting

in w

este

rn a

nd

sout

hern

Eur

ope

and

wes

tern

Afr

ica

•

Qua

ntify

the

exte

nt o

f acc

iden

tal k

illin

g of

Gre

at S

nipe

by

Com

mon

Sni

pe

hunt

ers a

nd, i

f nee

ded,

pos

tpon

e st

art o

f C

omm

on S

nipe

hun

ting

seas

on u

ntil

the

begi

nnin

g of

Sep

tem

ber

Suff

icie

nt

quan

tity

of

habi

tats

& g

ood

qual

ity o

f ha

bita

ts

M

ediu

m •

Mai

ntai

n or

enh

ance

the

curr

ent s

tatu

s of h

abita

ts

• En

cour

age

prot

ectiv

e st

atus

for a

ll si

tes o

f im

porta

nce

for t

he G

reat

Sni

pe. F

or E

U (o

r acc

essi

on) c

ount

ries

site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e sh

ould

be

decl

ared

SPA

acc

ordi

ng to

the

EU B

irds D

irect

ive.

For

oth

er

coun

tries

the

site

s sho

uld

be in

clud

ed in

the

Emer

ald

Net

wor

k (B

ern

Con

vent

ion)

and

/or a

s Ram

sar s

ites.

• In

vent

ory

of k

ey si

tes a

nd

dete

rmin

atio

n of

hab

itat t

hrea

ts

Key

kno

wle

dge

need

ed

Hig

h •

Dis

tribu

tion

and

popu

latio

n si

ze

• H

abita

t use

and

die

t •

Upd

ate

dist

ribut

ion

map

s and

nat

iona

l es

timat

es o

f mig

ratio

n po

pula

tion

• Im

prov

e kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t use

and

di

et



Win

teri

ng c

ount

ries

(ca

. 35

coun

trie

s in

tro

pica

l and

sou

ther

n A

fric

a. F

or m

ore

deta

il se

e A

nnex

II)

Inte

rnat

iona

l O

bjec

tive

P

rior

ity

Nat

iona

l man

agem

ent

opti

ons/

acti

ons

Mea

sura

ble

obje

ctiv

e

Incr

ease

su

rviv

al

M

ediu

m •

Stop

all

over

-exp

loita

tion

• B

an h

untin

g or

ens

ure

sust

aina

ble

harv

estin

g

Suff

icie

nt

quan

tity

of

habi

tats

&

go

od q

ualit

y of

ha

bita

ts

H

igh

• M

aint

ain

or e

nhan

ce th

e cu

rren

t sta

tus o

f hab

itats

•

Enco

urag

e pr

otec

tive

stat

us fo

r all

site

s of i

mpo

rtanc

e fo

r the

Gre

at S

nipe

. Site

s of i

nter

natio

nal i

mpo

rtanc

e sh

ould

be

decl

ared

Ram

sar s

ites

• In

vent

ory

of k

ey si

tes a

nd

dete

rmin

atio

n of

hab

itat t

hrea

ts

• Th

e Et

hiop

ian

plat

eau

gras

slan

d se

ems

to b

e ve

ry im

porta

nt fo

r a la

rge

frac

tion

of th

e ea

ster

n po

pula

tion

durin

g m

id-

Aug

ust –

mid

-Oct

ober

, and

the

need

of

a m

anag

emen

t pla

n fo

r the

se a

reas

sh

ould

be

eval

uate

d.

Key

kno

wle

dge

need

ed

Hig

h •

Dis

tribu

tion

and

popu

latio

n si

ze

• H

abita

t use

and

die

t •

Upd

ate

dist

ribut

ion

map

s and

nat

iona

l es

timat

es o

f win

terin

g po

pula

tion

• Im

prov

e kn

owle

dge

on h

abita

t use

and

di

et





7. Implementation General preconditions For the Action Plan to be successfully implemented, agreement on information exchange, communication and monitoring, clarity on necessary financial resources and a realistic time-schedule are prerequisites. It is most important that individual countries only consider measures affecting the population following consultation with the other countries involved. The AEWA Technical Committee should play a mediating role. A special working group under the Technical Committee should be established to co-ordinate the implementation of the Great Snipe Action Plan. In this working group breeding and wintering Range States and interested groups should be represented. The Range States are responsible for monitoring national achievements, and communicating these to the AEWA Great Snipe Working Group and other Range States. This chapter will describe these essential preconditions for the implementation of the International Action Plan. A key challenge here will be to start necessary action when only one of the countries accommodating breeding Great Snipes has signed AEWA (see Annex II). Gap in knowledge As long as there is a major lack in the fundamental knowledge about the population biology (e.g. details about the breeding range, population size, migration habits, wintering range) and the ecology (e.g. habitat use and diet, particularly outside the breeding season) of the Great Snipe, it is impossible to develop an optimal Action Plan for this species. A main task for the proposed AEWA Great Snipe Working Group should be to encourage the gathering of such knowledge. A population model is also needed for the preparation of reliable national Action Plans in the future, and should therefore be developed. The development of such a model will also identify a set of parameters, for several of which data are lacking, and will thereby identify key parameters to be included in the monitoring of the species that has to be initiated. Monitoring The success of this Action Plan stands or falls with the commitment of countries to monitor the population and habitats, as well as the effects of management measures on the species. Only if countries demonstrate this commitment, can proper management decisions be made. All countries are requested to initiate a regular population census, a co-operative ringing programme and to start population monitoring (including productivity) (see Kålås 2000, Aunins 2001a). The working group would be vital in organising this work. Organisation In the organisation structure of AEWA, the Agreement Secretariat plays a key role. The Agreement Secretariat co-ordinates the flow of scientific information and technical advice. It also calls for meetings of the AEWA parties. The Technical Committee was established in accordance with the Agreement text and is a subsidiary body to the Meeting of the Parties. Article VII, paragraph 5 of the Agreement gives the Technical Committee the possibility of installing working groups for special purposes. This article can be used for the establishment of a Great Snipe Working Group. Great Snipe Working Group (GSWG) A special Great Snipe Working Group under the AEWA Technical Committee should be established for implementation of this Action Plan. The GSWG should, under supervision of the Technical Committee and taking into account the role of the Agreement Secretariat, be mandated to undertake the following activities: • Develop guidelines for population census and monitoring, and organise a co-operative ringing

programme • Develop guidelines for habitat management practices • Facilitate the development of a population model



• Assist in and co-ordinate the process of National Action Plan preparation • Prepare and organise the triennial meeting with actual Range States • Prepare and submit a review of the Action Plan to the triennial Range States meeting and to

AEWA • Co-ordinate and facilitate information exchange between Range States (and between AEWA and

the Range States) • Monitor implementation of the Action Plan through the preparation of an annual report by the

WG • Collect country data and draft annual reports on the implementation of the Action Plan • Organise intermediate meetings with groups of Range States (training, emergency measures, etc.) The GSWG should consist of a team of several technical advisors. To ensure effective communication between the Technical Committee and the working group, at least one member of the Technical Committee should also participate in the working group. Detailed Terms of Reference based on the above description of activities will be prepared by the Technical Committee, and endorsed by the Range States before the GSWG starts its work. Country actions In all communication between the Range States (Contracting and Non-Contracting to AEWA), the Agreement Secretariat plays a co-ordinating role. To keep communication lines clear, countries should therefore provide information to the Agreement Secretariat. This is intended to ensure that all parties receive all relevant information. In order to implement the Action Plan, the Range State Countries should commit themselves at least to the following points: • Endorse this Action Plan • Within one year, prepare, in co-operation with the working group, and based on Chapters 5 and 6

of this International Action Plan, a National Action Plan • Implement this National Action Plan • Endorse the Terms of Reference of the working group • Through the Agreement Secretariat, inform the working group about relevant issues in the

country • Appoint focal points, responsible for the communication with the working group and relevant

stakeholders in the country • Contribute information for the preparation of the annual report by the GSWG • Prepare a review of the National Action Plans every three to five years • Maintain and further develop adequately funded research and monitoring programmes to deliver

key data

Tim

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for

mon

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eva

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and

com

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Tim

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2nd

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4

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↓

↓

↓

↓

A

EW

A T

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C

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• A

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for t

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•

Fac

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form

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Wor

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• A

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co-

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Nat

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• M

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of th

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inte

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Plan

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pre

pare

ann

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repo

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Org

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•

Fac

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• M

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(nat

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A

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an

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• F

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Wor

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• Pr

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Sta

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Mon

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the

natio

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Org

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Faci

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Act

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Ran

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• E

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Act

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Plan

•

End

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the

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Ran

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• P

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• Im

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• C

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Con

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• C

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year

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• C

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Exch

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⇓

⇓

⇓

⇓

Prod

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Wor

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•

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Act

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Plan



Glossary In this Action Plan, the following definitions have been used: Equilibrium population level - stable level of animal population size, in which birth rate and death rate are equal Habitat - environment meeting the conditions required by a particular species Natural habitat - environment of a particular species, which has not been changed by human interference, i.e. arctic tundra Semi-natural habitat - environment of a particular species, which has been moderately modified by humans, i.e. low grazing pressure by sheep or farmed reindeer in mountain areas and arctic tundra Man-made habitat - man-made environment of a particular species, i.e. farmland, mowing and grazing of flood plains Feeding areas - areas where animals search for food Range States - (independent) countries within the range in which a particular animal species occurs Flyover countries - those Range States which bird species pass by only on migration, without stopping for at least several days Wintering grounds - staging grounds during the winter Migration staging grounds - staging grounds used during migration Key sites – areas which are essential for the survival of a significant part of the population (conform to Ramsar criteria) at any stage of its annual cycle, i.e. for this migratory bird species: breeding grounds, staging areas and wintering sites.





Key references Aunins, A. 1999. Species Conservation Action Plan for Great Snipe (Gallinago media). Latvian Orn. Soc., Riga. (in Latvian, English version available) Aunins, A. 2001a. Changes of lekking activity of Great Snipe during course of night and season in Latvia: recommendations for methods of searching for Great snipe leks and estimating lek size. – Putni daba Supplement 1: 13 – 26 Aunins, A. 2001b. Territorial distribution, numbers and habitat selection of Great Snipe in Latvia: historical information and the current situation (1999 - 2001). – Putni daba Supplement 1: 4 - 12. BirdLife International 2004. Threatened Birds of the World 2004. CD-ROM. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. BirdLife International 2004. Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Second edition. Wageningen, The Netherlands: BirdLife International. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12). Devort, M. 2000. Some methodological aspects of snipes research: The contribution of long term wing collection and analysis of the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), the Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) and the Great Snipe (Gallinago media) to the monitoring of their populations. - OMPO – Newsletter No 21: 5 – 24. Devort, M. & Paloc, R. 1994. Some aspects of moult and migration of the Great Snipe. - IWRB Publication 31: 89 - 97. Devort, M., Chevallier, F., Lethier, H., Olivier, G-N. & Veiga, J. 1997. The Snipe, elements of an action plan. - OMPO, Paris, France. Fiske, P., Kålås, J.A. & Sæther, S.A. (Manuscript). Effects of gender, age and mating success on survival in a lekking bird. Garvis, G. 2000. The National Action Plan for the Great Snipe (Gallinago media) conservation in Ukraine. In: The National Action Plans for the Globally threatened bird species. Ukrainian Society for Bird Conservation (UTOP). SoftArt Press, Kyiv. pp. 180-189. (in Ukrainian). Gavris, G.G. 2002. Modern status of the Great snipe in Ukraine, matters of conservation. (Manuscript). Höglund, J., Kålås, J.A. & Fiske, P. 1992. The cost of secondary sexual characters in the lekking Great Snipe (Gallinago media). - Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 30: 309-315. Höglund, J. & Alatalo, R.V. 1995. Leks. Monographs in behaviour and ecology. Princeton Univ. Press. New Jersey. Løfaldli, L., Kålås, J.A. & Fiske, P. 1992. Habitat selection and diet of the Great snipe Gallinago media during breeding. - Ibis 134: 35-43. Kuresoo, A. & Luigujõe, L. 2000. Great snipe (Gallinago media) project in Estonia: Survey methods and preliminary results. - OMPO - Newsletter No. 21: 33 - 38. Kuresoo, A. & Luigujõe, L. 2002. National Action Plan for the Great snipe. In press, (in Estonian with English summary)



Kålås, J.A. 2000. The Great Snipe: survey and monitoring methods. - OMPO - Newsletter 21: 25-31. Kålås, J.A., Estafiev, A.A. & Kotchanov, S.K. 1997a. Gallinago media, Great Snipe. In: Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (Eds) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A.D. Poyser. London. p. 290. Kålås, J.A., Fiske, P. and Höglund, J. 1997b. Food supply and breeding occurrences: the West European population of the lekking Great Snipe Gallinago media (Latham, 1787) Aves. - Journal of Biogeography 24: 213-221. Massoli-Novelli, R. 1988. Status and habitat of the Great Snipe in Ethiopia and its movements in Africa. – Third Woodcock and Snipe Workshop. Paris 14-16 Oct. 1988: 12 - 15. Meltofte, H. 1993. Wader migration through Denmark: populations, non-breeding phenology and migration strategies. Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift 87: 1-180. (in Danish with English summary). Mongin, E. 2000. Overview of available data on Snipes and the planned surveys in Belarus. - OMPO – Newsletter 21: 85-87. Mongin, E. 2002. Study Of Snipes (Gallinago gallinago, Gallinago media, Lymnocryptes minimus) In Belarus. (in press) Nikiforov, M., Kozulin, A., Grichik, V. and Tishechkin, A. 1997. Birds of Belarus on boundary of XXI century. Minsk. Korolev Press, (in Russian). Nikiforov, M.E. and Mongin, E.A. 1998. Breeding waders of Belarus: number estimates and recent population trends. Tomkovich, P.S. and Lebedeva, E.A. (Eds). Breeding waders in Eastern Europe – 2000. Vol.1: 93-96. (In Russian). OMPO. 2000. Proceedings OMPO International meeting on Snipes (Gallinago gallinago, Gallinago media, Lymnocryptes minimus). Vilnius, Lithuania 3-4 March 2000. –Newsletter No 21. OMPO, Paris, France. Raudonikis, L. & Svazas, S. 2000. Population status of the Great Snipe in Lithuania. - OMPO – Newsletter 21: 47-49.. Svazas, S., Jusys, V., Raudonikis, L & Zydelis R. 2001. Snipes in Lithuania. – OMPO, Paris, France. Tomkovich, P.S. 1992. Breeding-range and population changes of waders in the former Soviet Union. - British Birds 85: 344 - 365. Tucker G.M. & Heath M.F. (Eds.), 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. - Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International.

Ann

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Annex II: Signatory countries for International Conventions relevant for the conservation of the Great Snipe. (x – Member Countries, Acc - Accession Countries) Country Function Ramsar Bonn AEWA Bern EU Biodiversity

Belarus Breeding x x x Estonia Breeding x x x x Latvia Breeding x x x x x Lithuania Breeding x x x x Norway Breeding x x x x Poland Breeding x x x x x Russian Federation Breeding x x Sweden Breeding x x x x x x Ukraine Breeding x x x x Denmark Formerly breeding at pre-

sent Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x

Finland Formerly breeding at pre-sent Migration/Fly-over

x x x x x x

Germany Formerly breeding at pre-sent Migration/Fly-over

x x x x x x

Albania Migration/Fly-over x x x Algeria Migration/Fly-over x x Armenia Migration/Fly-over x x Azerbaijan Migration/Fly-over x x X Belgium Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Bosnia & Herz. Migration/Fly-over Botswana Migration/Fly-over x x Bulgaria Migration/Fly-over x x x Acc x Croatia Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Cyprus Migration/Fly-over x x x Czech Rep. Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Egypt Migration/Fly-over x x x x Eritrea Migration/Fly-over x France Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x Georgia Migration/Fly-over x x x Greece Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Hungary Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Iran Migration/Fly-over x x Iraq Migration/Fly-over Israel Migration/Fly-over x x x Italy Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Jordan Migration/Fly-over x x x Kazakhstan Migration/Fly-over x Kuwait Migration/Fly-over x Lebanon Migration/Fly-over x x Libya Migration/Fly-over x x Liechtenstein Migration/Fly-over x x x x Luxembourg Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Migration/Fly-over x x x x

Malta Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Moldova Migration/Fly-over x x x x Monaco Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Morocco Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Netherlands Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x Portugal Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Romania Migration/Fly-over x x x x Acc x Saudi Arabia Migration/Fly-over x x Slovak Rep. Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Slovenia Migration/Fly-over x x x x x Spain Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x Switzerland Migration/Fly-over x x x x x



Syria Migration/Fly-over x x Tunisia Migration/Fly-over x x x x Turkey Migration/Fly-over x x x Turkmenistan Migration/Fly-over x United Kingdom Migration/Fly-over x x x x x x Uzbekistan Migration/Fly-over x x Yemen Migration/Fly-over x Serbia and Montenegro Migration/Fly-over x

Angola Wintering x Benin Wintering x x x x Burkina Faso Wintering x x x x Burundi Wintering x Cameroon Wintering x x Centr. Afr. Rep. Wintering x Chad Wintering x x x Congo Wintering x x x x Congo, Dem. Rep. Wintering x x x x Cote d'Ivoire Wintering x x Equatorial Guinee Wintering x x x Ethiopia Wintering x Gabon Wintering x x Gambia Wintering x x x Ghana Wintering x x x Guinea Wintering x x x Guinea Bissau Wintering x x x Kenya Wintering x x x Liberia Wintering x Malawi Wintering x x Mali Wintering x x x x Mauritania Wintering x x x Mozambique Wintering x x Namibia Wintering x x Niger Wintering x x x x Nigeria Wintering x x x Rwanda Wintering x Senegal Wintering x x x x x Sierra Leone Wintering x x South Africa Wintering x x x x Sudan Wintering x Tanzania Wintering x x x Togo Wintering x x x x x Uganda Wintering x x x Zambia Wintering x x Zimbabwe Wintering x



Annex III: Contributors (commenting on drafts, information, observations etc.) Name Organisation Area Related to Comments

Umberto Gallo-Orsi BirdLife International Organiser, BirdLife Workshop participant

Jaanus Elts Estonian Ornithological Society Estonia Organising Workshop Workshop

participant

Anders Kalamees Estonian Ornithological Society Estonia Organising Workshop

John Atle Kålås Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Norway Compiler Workshop

participant Des Callaghan BirdLife International BirdLife Database Bert Lenten AEWA General comments Kariuki Ndang'ang'a National Museum Kenya Kenya General comments

Ainars Aunins Latvian Fund for Nature Latvia Breeding Workshop participant

Gleb Gavris Ukrainian Academy of Sciences Ukraine Breeding and migration Workshop

participant

Sergei Fokin Russian Hunting Society Russia Breeding and migration Workshop participant

Andres Kuresoo Estonian Agrarian University Estonia Breeding Workshop participant

Leho Luigujoe Estonian Agrarian University Estonia Breeding Workshop participant

Edward Mongin Belarusian Academy of Sciences Belarus Breeding and migration Workshop

participant

Vladimir Morozov Moscow State University Russia Breeding and migration Workshop participant

Liutauras Raudonikis Lithuanian Ornithological Society Lithuania Breeding Workshop

participant

Michal Maniakowski Polish Society for the Protection of Birds Poland Breeding Workshop

participant Jacob Höglund Uppsala University Sweden Breeding Viktor P. Ivanchev Oka Reserve Russia Breeding

Peder Fiske Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Norway Breeding

Stein Are Sæther Uppsala University Norway Breeding Michael Grell Danish Ornithological Society Denmark Breeding and Migration Melis Charalambides Cyprus Ornithological Society Cyprus Migration Jacques Franchimont ABC Representative Morocco Migration

Dan Munteanu Romania Ornithological Society Romania Migration

Elchin Sultanov - Azerbaijan Migration Derek Scott - Iran Migration Michel Devort - France and Africa Migration and wintering Ranier Massoli-Novelli - Italy and Ethiopia Migration and wintering Guy-Noël Olivier OMPO France and Africa Migration and wintering Joost Brouwer Brouwer Env. & Agr. Cons. Africa Wintering Tim Dodman - Africa Wintering Liz & Neil Baker Tanzanian Bird Atlas Tanzania Wintering Albert Beintema Alterra Mali Wintering Nik Borrow - Gabon Wintering Anthony Cizek - Zimbabwe Wintering Patrick Claffey - Benin Wintering Will Duckworth - Gabon Wintering Pete Leonard - Zambia Wintering Heimo Mikkola FAO Representative Gambia Wintering Nigel Redman Christopher Helm Kenya Wintering Ian Sinclair Vanga Tours Namibia, Zimbabwe Wintering Eddy Wymenga A & W Ecol. Consulants Mali Wintering

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