Practical demonstration activities for the conservation of large carnivores

WHY?

Coexistence of people and bear, lynx and wolf is possible, and there are many examples of good practices showing how is that achievable and sustainable. For better relationship between people and large carnivores it is necessary to raise awareness, provide a proper tools and techniques and change behavior towards better coexistence. Therefore, farmers, beekeepers, visitors, local communities and other stakeholders will be included in various individual demonstration activities.

OBJECTIVE

Improve the relationship between people and large carnivores through education, prevention measures, and other activities. In scope of the project we will help to put the right tools in the hands of people who need them.

HOW?

Through demo-measures for:

• reducing the availability of prey in agriculture and marginal neighborhoods, those “hot spots” where usually damage and conflicts occurs
• reducing the risk of traffic accidents of large carnivores on the roads and thereby improving the habitat connectivity
• reducing the disturbance of visitors with the planned monitoring and routing of visits, recreational flows and traffic and establishing peaceful zones in the Natura 2000 cross-border project area
• reducing the risk of mortality for orphaned lynx cubs
• reducing the risk of bear habituation

OUTPUTS

Better state of the transboundary habitat of large carnivores through following activities:

• Conflict prevention in agriculture:
  • Agricultural good practices
  • Electrical fences to prevent damage
  • Guard dogs
  • Leaflet on demo measures in agriculture
• Reduction of traffic jams
  • An active signalization for roads
• Visitor management
  • Measures for guiding visits
  • Equipment for guiding visitors
  • Visitor guidance system – establishing “peaceful zones”
  • Visitor guidance flyers
• A shelter for abandoned lynx cubs
• Prevention of habituation
  • Bear-safe waste bins