PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is an endangered species included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive. The current distribution area of this large mammal in the Cantabrian mountains includes four autonomous administrative regions: Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León and Galicia. The area is mountainous with forests of beech, oak, birch and chestnut mixed with open grassland and crags.
The bear population is divided into two apparently unconnected subgroups: the eastern one contains about 20 individuals; and the western one around 50-70. Together they represent 30% of the wild brown bear population in the EU. The main threats to this endangered species have been identified as habitat degradation, illegal hunting, disturbance and death from things such as traps and poison, and loss of genetic variability.
This project is part of an overall multi-beneficiaries, multi-annual approach involving four regional governments and a bear conservation NGO. The relevant projects are:
LIFE92 NAT/E/0014500, LIFE94 NAT/E/004827 & LIFE95 NAT/E/001155 (Asturias)
LIFE92 NAT/E/0014501 & LIFE95 NAT/E/001154 (Cantabria)
LIFE92 NAT/E/0014502, LIFE94 NAT/E/004829 & LIFE95 NAT/E/001158 (Castile and Leon)
LIFE92 NAT/E/0014503, LIFE94 NAT/E/001458 & LIFE95 NAT/E/001156 (Galicia)
LIFE92 NAT/E/0014504, LIFE94 NAT/E/004830 & LIFE95 NAT/E/000628 (the Brown Bear Foundation)
The projects covered several protected areas, such as Muniellos Natural Reserve (5 542 ha), Somiedo Natural Park (87 900 ha), hunting reserves (590 299 ha) and SPAs (43 756 ha).
OBJECTIVES
All the projects operating under the joint approach aimed to combat the main threats facing the brown bear in the Cantabrian mountains through conservation and recovery of its habitat and the eradication of illegal hunting
The planned project actions in Asturias were in accordance with the recovery plan adopted by the regional government. Asturias was home to approximately 70% of the whole Cantabrian bear population.
The foreseen actions included:
land acquisition in key feeding and refuge areas
renting of hunting and timber-cutting rights to avoid disturbance and habitat degradation in critical habitats
reforestation of degraded habitats
plantation of chestnuts to increase and diversify food supplies
increased and improved surveillance to prevent disturbance and illegal hunting
a proper compensation system for all legitimate claims for damages inflicted by either bears or wolves.
awareness-raising activities targeting local populations and children.
RESULTS
Overall the LIFE ursus arctos projects dated 1992-95 made a significant contribution to understanding the brown bear, its distribution, needs and threats. They specifically led to the preparation of a National strategy for brown bear conservation. The four regional governments and the NGO met periodically together with national authorities to discuss their work and outcomes. This led to the establishment of a national co-ordination committee for bear conservation that has been afterwards maintained in the framework of the National Commission for Nature Conservation.
The projects in Asturias increased knowledge of the brown bear in the region significantly. Studies included the collation of GIS data on bear diet, availability of food resources, shelter, vegetation cover and human activities. The data showed the bear distribution area in Asturias to extend over 2 000 km2, which was represented in 32 high quality maps. This cartography provided useful information about the most valuable bear areas to inform land-use planning, environmental impact assessments and restoration actions.
The projects purchased 1 877 ha of land in Asturias that was then managed to conserve bear populations. It purchased 377 ha of land in Somiedo and Fuentes del Narcea, where well-conserved habitats and reproductive nuclei of the bears had been detected in recent years. A further 1 500 ha were purchased in Pumar de las Montañas with the intention of undertaking a comprehensive restoration. This area was in the bear distribution area, although it was not hosting any bears at that time. All lands purchased were included in pSCIs.
The projects’ habitat recovery actions involved reforestation of 140 ha in the Muniellos Reserve with native species to increase the forest cover and of 617 ha over the tunnels of the Oviedo-León motorway to create corridors connecting the eastern and western bear populations. Innovative manual techniques were used to make the holes, plant seedlings and protect them from herbivore damage in the early years of growth with plastic tubes.
Monitoring and surveys examined numbers and countered threats from poaching and other disturbances, such as traps and poisoning. Courses were arranged for 35 rangers working in bear areas and co-operation promoted with the Special Service for Nature Protection of the Civil Guard. The rangers’ equipment was enhanced with two cars, two motorbikes and optical equipment - surveillance also included flights by helicopter. The rangers controlled threats to the bear and also provided information on observations of individuals, traces and signs. Thanks to the fruitful collaboration, 2 070 snares were removed in the bear area from 1993 to 1998.
The projects implemented an effective compensations policy for damage caused by bears and wolves in the bear's distribution area. Regular and punctual compensation payments were also made for wolf damage because this aimed to reduce the use of methods such as poison and traps aimed at the wolf, but also threatening the bear. These measures helped improve acceptance of the species by local farmers.
Changing attitudes towards the bear was a key measure of the project. It issued leaflets and other media – including a documentary on the bear - to inform people of the compensation scheme and the recovery plan for the bear. It constructed a Bear Centre and an enclosure where two orphaned bear cubs could be visited while reared. The activities of the ‘bear house’ became very well known in Asturias and were managed by a Foundation (Fundación Oso de Asturias) with funding from other private and public sources.Overall the LIFE ursus arctos projects dated 1992-95 made a significant contribution to understanding the brown bear, its distribution, needs and threats. They specifically led to the preparation of a National strategy for brown bear conservation. The four regional governments and the NGO met periodically together with national authorities to discuss their work and outcomes. This led to the establishment of a national co-ordination committee for bear conservation that has been afterwards maintained in the framework of the National Commission for Nature Conservation.
The projects in Asturias increased knowledge of the brown bear in the region significantly. Studies included the collation of GIS data on bear diet, availability of food resources, shelter, vegetation cover and human activities. The data showed the bear distribution area in Asturias to extend over 2 000 km2, which was represented in 32 high quality maps. This cartography provided useful information about the most valuable bear areas to inform land-use planning, environmental impact assessments and restoration actions.
The projects purchased 1 877 ha of land in Asturias that was then managed to conserve bear populations. It purchased 377 ha of land in Somiedo and Fuentes del Narcea, where well-conserved habitats and reproductive nuclei of the bears had been detected in recent years. A further 1 500 ha were purchased in Pumar de las Montañas with the intention of undertaking a comprehensive restoration. This area was in the bear distribution area, although it was not hosting any bears at that time. All lands purchased were included in pSCIs.
The projects’ habitat recovery actions involved reforestation of 140 ha in the Muniellos Reserve with native species to increase the forest cover and of 617 ha over the tunnels of the Oviedo-León motorway to create corridors connecting the eastern and western bear populations. Innovative manual techniques were used to make the holes, plant seedlings and protect them from herbivore damage in the early years of growth with plastic tubes.
Monitoring and surveys examined numbers and countered threats from poaching and other disturbances, such as traps and poisoning. Courses were arranged for 35 rangers working in bear areas and co-operation promoted with the Special Service for Nature Protection of the Civil Guard. The rangers’ equipment was enhanced with two cars, two motorbikes and optical equipment - surveillance also included flights by helicopter. The rangers controlled threats to the bear and also provided information on observations of individuals, traces and signs. Thanks to the fruitful collaboration, 2 070 snares were removed in the bear area from 1993 to 1998.
The projects implemented an effective compensations policy for damage caused by bears and wolves in the bear's distribution area. Regular and punctual compensation payments were also made for wolf damage because this aimed to reduce the use of methods such as poison and traps aimed at the wolf, but also threatening the bear. These measures helped improve acceptance of the species by local farmers.
Changing attitudes towards the bear was a key measure of the project. It issued leaflets and other media – including a documentary on the bear - to inform people of the compensation scheme and the recovery plan for the bear. It constructed a Bear Centre and an enclosure where two orphaned bear cubs could be visited while reared. The activities of the ‘bear house’ became very well known in Asturias and were managed by a Foundation (Fundación Oso de Asturias) with funding from other private and public sources.