More than 150 grouse researchers and
conservationists from 26 countries met in the French Pyrenees
resort town of Luchon from 25th to 30th September 2005 to discuss
the current state of the world's grouse species. In the 27 years
since the first such gathering attracted some 60 participants the
size and intensity of the meetings has grown substantially. There
is no doubt that collectively this is the sharp end of Galliformes
conservation science, with many participants among the leading
figures in the fields of ecology, genetics and wildlife
management.
The meeting began with a warm
welcome from the M André Rettig, the mayor of Luchon and M
Bernard Baudin the President of Office National de la Chasse et de
la Faune Sauvage (the French government's Office of Hunting and
Wildlife). It was clear from their messages that the symposium was
of great significance both locally and at a national wildlife
level. The first talks set the scene for the week's deliberations
at various levels. A delightful Franco-Spanish presentation
introduced the Pyrenees, its wildlife and cultures. Ilse Storch
(Chair, Grouse Specialist Group) then gave a wide-ranging review
of the status of the world's grouse species indicating that whilst
at a global level few are considered threatened (although the
number seems to creep up), many are of concern in the countries in
which they occur. Philip McGowan (WPA) indicated that the
innovative approaches and techniques that are now used for
researching and conserving grouse could be applied to pheasants in
Asia, francolins in Africa and cracids in Latin America.
The many presentations that followed
proved this point time and again and there were several globally
significant highlights. Jack Connelly (Idaho Department of Fish
and Game, USA), Michael Schroeder (Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife, USA) and their colleagues gave an account of an
exemplary, scientifically rigorous conservation assessment of the
globally Near-threatened greater sage-grouse in North America.
They also discussed the very negative political reaction it
received!
Demonstrating that grouse are often
in the forefront of new developments there were excellent
presentations on genetics-based studies. Gernot Segelbacher
(University of Freiburg, Germany) gave an overview of techniques
and indicated that we are now in the exciting position whereby
minute amounts of DNA can be extracted from feathers, egg shells
or droppings to study small populations with as little disturbance
as possible. Stuart Piertney (University of Aberdeen, UK) and
Jacob Höglund (Uppsala University, Sweden) then gave
excellent case studies of the analysis of genetic variation and
what it means for populations of several species.
Fragmentation of habitat is of ever
increasing concern and affects habitats of game birds from
Himalayan forest to the Atlantic forest of Brazil. However, we
have little idea what this means for the genetic health of the
populations that become isolated. Again, grouse show the way. For
example, Karl Larsson (Uppsala University, Sweden) and colleagues
presented preliminary results that suggest genetic diversity was
lower and inbreeding higher in isolated populations of black
grouse in western European than those populations that are
connected to each other. The management implications are
obvious.
Finally, it was very encouraging to
hear Ramaz Gokhelashvili (Georgian Center for the Conservation of
Wildlife) present progress on the Caucasian black grouse project
in which WPA is a partner. This talk showed very well that the new
techniques being developed can allow a rapid increase in our
knowledge of what the problems are and how they might be solved,
if properly planned. A considerable amount of ecological and
genetic data has been gathered to provide a sound basis for the
management planning that we are now involved with.
Amongst those attending the
Symposium were Tim and Diana Lovel, who with WPA's first Chairman
Kit Savage, founded these meetings in 1978. Tim was delighted to
be asked both to open the first session and close the last one.
A meeting of the Grouse Specialist
Group reviewed its activities over the last three years: what a
remarkable job Ilse Storch is doing in providing a central focus
to the grouse conservation cause. It was agreed that the 11th
International Grouse Symposium will be held in Canada during
summer or early autumn 2008, organised by Kathy Martin (University
of British Colombia, Canada). The chance of seeing seven grouse
species is sure to guarantee a very good turn out
again.
The whole symposium was excellently
organised by Emmanuel Ménoni (who led a team to count
pheasants at Pipar in Nepal during the late 1990s!) and Claude
Novoa from ONCFS with support from the Regional Administration of
the Environment of Midi Pyrenees and WPA. The post-conference tour
of some 70 participants to grouse habitats in the Pyrenees of
France, Spain and Andorra was excellently led by Emmanuel, Jordi
Canut and Marc Mossoll Torres. Support from the government of
Andorra and the Aigues Tortes National Park (especially Jordi
Canut) ensured that this rounded of the symposium
wonderfully!
Dr Philip McGowan
Director World
Pheasant Association
7-9 Shaftesbury Street
Fordingbridge
Hampshire SP6 1JF
United Kingdom |
Xth INTERNATIONAL GROUSE SYMPOSIUM
