Public awareness

Communication material and dissemination

We will produce a series of communication material and special editions to communicate the  objectives and actions of the project, the conservation problems of  Lesser White-fronted Goose (LWfG) and their connection with the value of biodiversity, targeting the key local stakeholders. The publications are necessary in order to increase awareness among specific target groups, such as local hunters, farmers, local authorities and NGOs taking into account that each target group has an invaluable potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation.

The Communication material includes e.g.:

  • a project leaflet
  • a project poster
  • special editions of the HOS (Greece) and BSPB (Bulgaria) magazines
  • a bilingual calendar (Greek-Bulgarian for the year 2013, Hungarian-Finnish for the year 2014)
  • stickers
  • signboards at key locations
  • a Layman’s report of the project

In addition, members of the project team will take part in a number of key international conferences, meetings and seminars, during which experience and information will be exchanged, particularly with scientists and conservationists working on goose conservation, site management and waterfowl and wetland conservation in general.

There is considerable experience in water bird conservation, underpinned by a long history of goose research, and communication and sharing of best practice with the international conservation community will maximize conservation benefits for the species throughout its range.

Furthermore design and installation of signboards at key locations in the project sites will provide accessible summary information to residents and visitors of the project areas. The production of a Layman’s report will strengthen the projects communication and dissemination, as it is aimed at a broad audience and also towards decision makers and other non-specialist target groups.

This action is lead by Hellenic Ornithological Society HOS.

The environmental education material “Travelling with the Lesser White-fronted Goose in the Greek wetlands” has been designed to be implemented within an annual Environmental Education Programme. It addresses to teachers and students who wish to get to know the smallest and most endangered goose of Europe, the Lesser White-fronted Goose. The LWfG becomes the means in order to approach the educational value of biodiversity conservation and issues related to endangered species.

The educational material includes environmental education activities that can be implemented on an annual basis during the school year. The proposed activities are related to the specific characteristics and behaviour of wild birds, focusing on the example of the Lesser White-fronted Goose as an endangered species, offering at the same time the opportunity for the development of various environmental issues. The main topics can be divided in three main sections: 1) biodiversity, 2) wild birds and 3) the Lesser White-fronted Goose, which is the main objective of the educational programme.

Two environmental education packages were created; The first one addresses the age group kindergarten to 3rd grade and the second one the age group 4th to 6th grade and 7th to 12th grade. Each environmental education package includes environmental education activities (22 activities for the age group kindergarten to 3rd grade and 27 activities for the age group 4th-6th grade and 7th-12th grade), a 52-page Teacher Guide with guidelines on how to use the educational material as well as useful information for bird ecology, project sites and the LWfG, a CD-ROm with the educational material in digital format and supplementary educational material such as presentations and additional activities.

The educational material is available in Greek here.

This action is lead by Hellenic Ornithological Society HOS.

Campaign to reduce disturbance for LWfG in Finland

The aim of this action is to reduce the risk of disturbance and accidental shooting for LWfG by informing and educating local residents in the potential breeding areas in the Northern Finnish Lapland and in the spring staging area on the Bothnian Bay coast.

We will publish and distribute information material for hunters, reindeer herders, tourist firms, farmers and other groups that are likely to cause disturbance for LWfG in these areas. This material will be published also in Samish language. Meetings with local hunter and reindeer owner societies will be arranged; a presentation on the species and on the Life project will be given and the printed material will be distributed in the meetings. Also, we will provide articles for magazines.

This action is lead by Metsähallitus