Action to help save critically endangered geese

A large proportion of the population of this critically endangered species winters on Hebridean islands and in the west of Scotland, roosting on peatland areas and feeding on grassland nearby. 

There are significant concerns for its future, however, as the population has declined from 36,000 in the late 1990s, to just under 15,000 in 2026.

The main drivers of the decline are thought to be climate change affecting breeding grounds in Greenland and illegal hunting in Iceland. While these factors cannot be controlled in Scotland, actions taken here may help to offset the impacts by supporting adult survival and fitness.

This involves reducing disturbance and avoiding inadvertent mortality as much as possible to give the geese the best chance at migration and breeding. 

Actions to be taken in Scotland include reviewing and, where possible, expanding undisturbed feeding areas. Improving roosting habitat through peatland restoration, and feeding grounds through agri-environment schemes, will also be supported.

These actions will complement the legal protections that are already in place for the species in Scotland, where they are fully protected and there is no hunting. There are also multiple protected areas which support the population, with any development nearby requiring an impact assessment for the species.

Rae McKenzie, NatureScot Goose Policy Manager, said: “Each year, thousands of Greenland white-fronted geese make the long journey from their breeding grounds in Greenland to shelter for the winter in the north and west of Scotland. Sadly, over recent decades, the numbers arriving on our shores have drastically reduced.

“While we can’t control many of the factors behind this decline, Scotland does play an important role in the conservation of these geese.

“By increasing action here through, for example, targeting peatland restoration where it can be of most help to the species, and ensuring they remain undisturbed as much as possible, we can help play a role in halting the decline of this charismatic goose.”

Find out more about the national actions being taken in Scotland. NatureScot is also working with international partners to ensure that conservation action for the Greenland white-fronted geese is coordinated on a broader scale.

ENDS