Table 1.
Summary timeline of the main events in the development of Islay goose policy
| Year | Conservation and monitoring | Goose management conflicts and actions on Islay | National (Scottish) legislation and policy development |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Start of regular barnacle goose census | ||
| 1960s | First concerns about impacts of geese on crops on Islay documented. No action taken | ||
| 1981 | Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 which came into effect in September 1992 | ||
| 1982 | Commencement of whole-island counts on Islay | ||
| 1983 | First management agreements with farmers | SSSI re-notifications | |
| 1984 | RSPB acquire Loch Gruinart Reserve | ||
| Mid-1980s | EC agri-environment schemes supported land improvement on Islay. Increase in area and quality of agricultural grassland | ||
| 1987 | Initial management scheme using scarers to scare geese into feeding areas | ||
| 1988 | SPA classifications | ||
| 1992 | Commencement of field by field counts to support goose management scheme | Introduction of first whole-island goose management scheme with payments to farmers for feeding geese | |
| 1999 | Establishment of National Goose Forum with key stakeholders | ||
| 2000 | Setting up of Local Goose Management Review Group. Introduction of new goose management scheme to deliver national goose policy objectives including feeding geese but protecting crops by non-lethal scaring and licenced shooting to protect the most valuable crops |
Introduction of National Goose Policy Framework and the setting up of the National Goose Management Review Group (and Goose Science Advisory subgroup) to advise Scottish Government | |
| 2005 | Interim review of National Goose policy Framework | ||
| 2009 | SNH convene a Greenland white-fronted goose international workshop on Islay to develop an AEWA action plan | ||
| 2012 | Greenland white-fronted goose flyway plan agreed AEWA (MoP5) | Review of National Goose Policy Framework | |
| 2014 | Research by WWT to better understand behaviour of Greenland white-fronted geese on Islay (2 year project) | Existing goose management scheme amended to include elements to deliver the Islay Strategy | Development of Islay Sustainable Goose Management Strategy (using adaptive management approach) |
| 2015 | Collect baseline data for delivery of the Islay Strategy |