Prioritizing refuge sites for migratory geese to alleviate conflicts with agriculture

摘要: Expanding populations of geese feeding on farmland during winter and spring conflict with agricultural interests along their migratory flyway in north-western Europe. In Mid-Norway, farmers scare spring-staging pink-footed Anser brachyrhynchus off land to protect crops, this has had clear effects goose distribution. To the geese, Norwegian authorities have implemented economic compensation discourage scaring, but not been prioritised accommodate biological requirements dispersal patterns though such an approach is clearly needed. address need, we assessed negative scaring 2004–2007, built a species distribution model identify sites suitable for foraging. We subsequently combined known foraging identified by our these according connectivity, perimeter area ratio, years historic use proximity roost. By combining data sites, model, simple, accountable site selection process demonstrate how current scheme can be made 10 times more efficient through strategic prioritisation. Our direct implications alleviating similar goose-agriculture conflicts throughout