EUROPARC is actively working to improve coexistence between people and large carnivores in and around Protected Areas.
This participatory workshop was organized in partnership with the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores.
The event raised a lot of interest across the network and a selection of participants had to be made. Around 50 participants attended the workshop, representing Protected Areas, public authorities and NGOs from across 14 countries.
This report summarizes the main aspects raised and discussed during the workshop and provides the opportunity to a larger audience to access the presentations and recordings of the event.
Workshop Objectives
- Consider and identify Protected Areas' needs to develop successful planning and implement coexistence measures and processes.
- Clarify the role Protected Areas can play to improve the implementation of coexistence measures and processes across Europe.
- Review possible solutions and initiatives to support Protected Areas in their role and function.
- Provide an update on progress made at the EU level for the conservation of large carnivores, looking at policy developments, European platforms and project implementation, with an insight on new targets for the future and the role of Protected Areas.
- Share concrete experiences through case studies from different regions, focusing on effective communication, participatory processes, partnership building and damage prevention measures, particularly looking at the role of Protected Areas in leading and promoting processes and measures for coexistence in their areas.
PROGRAMME & PRESENTATIONS
Here you can access all the presentations used during the workshop.
Welcome and introduction by Federico Minozzi, EUROPARC Federation.
Speakers on European policy updates and initiatives to strengthen coexistence
Marco Cipriani, European Commission, DG Environment, Nature Protection Unit
Marco provided an update on EU policy for coexistence with large carnivores and the implications and role for Protected Areas. An overview on the status of the four species and on Commission guidances was also shared, together with updates on the EU funding instruments for coexistence.
You can look at his presentation here.
Katrina Marsden, Adelphi, EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores
Katrina explained the importance and functioning of stakeholders exchange platforms, both at European and regional level. You can find all the info on the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores in the presentation here.
The EU Platform has supported the establishment of a range of regional large carnivore platforms in different countries, bringing together stakeholders on a local level in areas where there are specific conflicts of interests related to large carnivore presence.
This video gives a short introduction to the platforms:
Case studies
- Support coexistence with large carnivores through partnerships. By Valeria Salvatori, Istituto di Ecologia Applicata, Italy.
Tapping into the effectiveness of Protected Areas in conserving large carnivores and the complexity of living with them. Valeria explained the importance of partnerships among all the stakeholders involved through the illustration of two examples: the collaboration between the Gran Sasso National Park and the Appenino Tosco Emiliano National Park in Italy, and a case from the Harghita region, in Romania. Find the full presentation here.
- Wolf/Human Coexistence. Research and Management in Maiella National Park. By Simone Angelucci & Antonio Antonucci, Majella National Park, Italy.
A very interesting insight into the conservation and management of wolfs in the Maiella National Park, where the wolf never disappeared and where innovative and practical solutions have been adopted to support coexistence with farming activities. Find the presentation here.
- Human and Iberian Lynx conflict: the challenge of a peaceful coexistence. By Guillermo Zamora, Junta de Andalucia, Spain.
Presentation of the challenges faced in Andalucia to ensure coexistence between farming activities and the Iberian lynx, as well as an ideal view of how the mitigation process could look like at a regional level. Find the presentation here.
Working towards coexistence: the role and needs of Protected Areas
What better way to tackle an issue than by coming together and opening the floor for discussion and brainstorming?
A participatory exercise in groups was set up with the tool Google Jamboard, giving participants the chance to share concrete needs, challenges, perspectives and to propose solutions.
Main takeaways from the questions discussed within the breakout groups
What do Protected Areas need and what challenges are they facing to implement and improve coexistence measures?
- Lack of information concerning opportunities, process and access to damage compensation measures;
- Lack of cooperation and engagement of stakeholders for joint monitoring of wildlife;
- Address challenges due to changes in landscapes: buildings, fences, trails, land abandonment;
- Inefficiency of compensation measures;
- Better cooperation and coordination between Protected Areas, as large carnivores tend to move long distances across different areas;
- Solutions for visitors management and avoiding overtourism.
What do we understand to be the main needs of Protected Areas' stakeholders when it comes to addressing coexistence challenges?
- Better understanding of the value of large carnivores for ecosystems;
- Strong and clear processes regulating interventions and actions in case of conflicts and damages;
- Alignment of policies and measures among regional authorities and Protected Areas;
- Bottom-up participatory processes
- Recognition for the social, ecological and economical role of farming activities;
- Addressing the issue of fences planning and designing, and creating green corridors for animals.
What possible actions, initiatives and solutions to improve coexistence in Protected Areas?
- Maintain engagement with stakeholders through virtual platform, local events, round tables, field trips and more;
- Develop and apply payment schemes for shepherds to incentivize sustainable farming in Protected Areas and raise the interest of local communities to work in this field;
- Ensure the involvement of local, regional and national authorities in the development of management plans;
- Include mediation tools and resources in Protected Areas plans and budgets;
- Establish strategic partnerships to ensure nature-oriented spatial planning, develop and maintain green infrastructures;
- Raise awareness about livestock as a positive activity for conservation;
- Establish clearer processes for compensation measures and support for prevention measures;
- Involve stakeholders in data collection to build trust and credibility in data analysis.
Watch the recording of the workshop here:
We would like to take this opportunity to further thank the speakers for their interventions and all participants for their active contributions, which made the discussion inspiring and fruitful.
The outcomes of this workshop will be used by EUROPARC to inspire further actions and initiatives for coexistence in Protected Areas.
For further information please contact Federico Minozzi at federico.minozzi@europarc.org
Credits:
Cascais Ambiente - Erstellt mit Bildern von WeAppU - "lynx animal big cat" • Natalia_Kollegova - "bear the beast predator" <a href="https://www.freepik.com/photos/food">Food photo created by aleksandarlittlewolf - www.freepik.com</a> <a href='https://www.freepik.com/photos/people'>People photo created by wirestock - www.freepik.com</a> - Wolfves: Rieder, Hohe Tauern National Park (A) - Cascais Ambiente