title: The greater snow goose Anser caerulescens atlanticus: Managing an overabundant population.
abstract: Between the early 1900s and the 1990s, the greater snow goose Anser caerulescens atlanticus population grew from 3000 individuals to more than 700 000. Because of concerns about Arctic degradation of natural habitats through overgrazing, a working group recommended the stabilization of the population. Declared overabundant in 1998, special management actions were then implemented in Canada and the United States. Meanwhile, a cost-benefit socioeconomic analysis was performed to set a target population size. Discussions aiming towards attaining a common vision were undertaken with stakeholders at multiple levels. The implemented measures have had varying success; but population size has been generally stable since 1999. To be effective and meet social acceptance, management actions must have a scientific basis, result from a consensus among stakeholders, and include an efficient monitoring programme. In this paper, historical changes in population size and management decisions along with past and current challenges encountered are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada. josee.lefebvre@canada.ca.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.affiliation: Département de Biologie & Centre d'Études Nordiques, Université Laval, 1045 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Station Centre-ville, P.O. Box 8888, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.affiliation: Canadian Wildlife Service, 1933 Place Michel-Valcourt, Québec, QC, G2B 1Y2, Canada.
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 5019 - 52nd Street, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P7, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 801-1550 Avenue d'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélanger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005777:Geese / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Anser caerulescens atlanticus; Greater snow goose; Management; North America; Overabundant population