ESTABLISHING A RESERVE NETWORK FOR WATERFOWL IN DENMARK - A BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF NEEDS AND CONSEQUENCES

Denmark is of major international importance for a number of waterfowl populations during migration and in winter. As part of the revision o f the Danish Hunting and Wildlife Management Act, 1992, it was decided to establish a network of reserves by creation and extension of reser ves in 46 EU Special Protection Areas for birds (SPAs). This paper sum marises an overall, biologically-based strategy for a reserve network in Denmark, as a basis for sustainable development of wetlands for mig ratory and wintering waterfowl. As well as securing the future for vul nerable populations, the reserve network should improve conditions for waterfowl staging and wintering in Denmark. The groups potentially mo st exposed to disturbance from hunting and other leisure activities, i .e. in greatest need of a reserve network, are the geese and the dabbl ing and small diving ducks. Swans, seaducks, sawbills and coots have l ess need for such a network. On this basis, deficiencies in the existi ng system of reserves are identified. Human recreational activities ar e considered compatible with sustainable development if the use by wat erfowl of important wetlands is primarily limited by available food re sources. Within each of the principal waterfowl migration routes and w intering areas identified, there should be a network of reserves which provides adequate opportunities for the birds to feed and rest. The p roposed network will amount to a total shooting-free refuge area of ca . 650 km(2), representing almost a doubling of the refuge area in Denm ark. The shooting-free area will be supplemented by ca. 870 km(2) with regulation of recreational activities or certain hunting methods. The extension is expected to result in a considerable increase in the num bers of dabbling ducks and geese, with the potential of holding back s ubstantial parts of some populations at a more northerly position on t heir flyways than before. The area available for hunting in SPAs will be reduced but hunting opportunities in adjacent areas could be expect ed to improve because the numbers of birds there will also increase. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.