The need of evidence-based management: the case of the of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose in Northern Norway

In the face of global change, conservation actions are implemented worldwide to reduce the risk of extinction of declining populations. Population dynamics can be, however, the result of complex biotic and abiotic interactions. Therefore, it is often unsure to what extent management contributes to the recovery of a population if a proper scientific assessment is lacking. If conservation is the goal, it is crucial to quantify the impact of management actions. The Fennoscandian population of the Lesser White-Fronted Goose Anser erythropus (henceforth LWFG) experienced a dramatic decline in the last decades, to the point that conservation actions were deemed necessary. Among several conservati…