Waterfowl populations of conservation concern : Learning from diverse challenges, models and conservation strategies / Jane Austin, Stuart Slattery, and Robert G. Clark.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 491-497).

There are 30 threatened or endangered species of waterfowl worldwide, and several
sub-populations are also threatened. Some of these species occur in North America,
and others there are also of conservation concern due to declining population trends
and their importance to hunters. Here we review conservation initiatives being
undertaken for several of these latter species, along with conservation measures in
place in Europe, to seek common themes and approaches that could be useful in
developing broad conservation guidelines. While focal species may vary in their lifehistories,
population threats and geopolitical context, most conservation efforts have
used a systematic approach to understand factors limiting populations and to identify
possible management or policy actions. This approach generally includes a priori
identification of plausible hypotheses about population declines or status,
incorporation of hypotheses into conceptual or quantitative planning models, and
the use of some form of structured decision making and adaptive management to
develop and implement conservation actions in the face of many uncertainties. A
climate of collaboration among jurisdictions sharing these birds is important to the
success of a conservation or management programme. The structured conservation
approach exemplified herein provides an opportunity to involve stakeholders at all
planning stages, allows for all views to be examined and incorporated into model
structures, and yields a format for improved communication, cooperation and
learning, which may ultimately be one of the greatest benefits of this strategy.