The purpose of OMPO is to be the European Institute of reference on sustainable use of the natural resources that are migratory birds and their habitats.

OMPOs’ priority species are game species of interest to our hunting organizations and endangered species. OMPO brings its contribution via an ecosystemic approach, i.e. considering species in their habitats. Among game species, are studied: waterbirds, doves and the Turdidae.

Rather than creating a structure where management fees outweigh the credits granted to actions, OMPO aims at coordinating existing research institutions and working on common grounds; thus, works are already published or in progress with the Russian Academy of Sciences or the Institute of Ecology of Lithuania.

In order to ensure governance that is transparent and that takes into account both, the demand of the hunting community and the necessary exigency the scientific work requires, OMPO is organized into three levels:

-    A committee of experts to determine the issues on which it is necessary to work on. This committee is composed of hunting engineers having a scientific and technical experience

-    A European scientific council that reviews scientific research projects and validates the results

-    A board of Directors that guides the action of OMPO. This BoD gathers the representatives of national and of the major European hunting organizations.

OMPO works closely with FACE, IUCN, Wetlands International, AEWA, ….in order to make the most of the results obtained.

The topics covered:

-    Species distribution and monitoring (flyways, trends, conservation status ...)

-    Understanding of the mechanisms that rule the functioning of populations

-    If necessary, modeling to predict species reactions in particular to climate change.

The monitoring requires networks of observers, in particular hunters. This development of participatory sciences involving the primary users of this natural resource which are the migratory birds, will show that hunters contribute directly to their knowledge.

The issues to be dealt with are being examined and can already be cited:

-    The status of Geese and especially the Greylag in the Palearctic and the determination of migratory flyways (using various satellite monitoring technologies, wing collection and genetic analysis)

-    The possibility of developing a European network of Turdidae population monitoring

-    Analysis of the contribution of hunting as a means of controlling invasive species (Canada goose, ...).

Issues such as confusion and disturbance will be submitted to

the Scientific Council