Priority measures for the conservation of large carnivores in the Alps

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Relations between humans and carnivores have often been strained and the latter have been persecuted to the point that in many cases their populations have been reduced to critical levels. This LIFE project focused on three species of carnivore in particular: the wolf, the bear and the lynx. Wolf numbers are gradually rising again throughout almost all of Italy and wolves coming from Slovenia have been observed only a few kilometres from Tarvisio. Experts predict that this species will soon succeed in recolonizing the Alps. The bear is present with a population in central Italy, a remnant nucleus in the Trentino (4-5 individuals) and a nucleus in the eastern Alps, constituted by individuals coming from Slovenia and Austria. The lynx is found in certain areas of South Tyrol and the eastern Alps.

The attitude of local inhabitants vis-à-vis these three species varies. Bears are generally viewed with goodwill, whereas the wolf and above all the lynx are often still seen as unwelcome neighbours. Fear of damages to livestock and game are the main reasons why herdsmen and hunters are reluctant to accept these two species onto their territory. The principal threats to the carnivores are habitat fragmentation, intensive and unsustainable use of forestry resources, stray dogs, the presence of barriers across ecological corridors and increased disturbance caused by people through activities such as tourism and uncontrolled recreation and hunting.

OBJECTIVES

This project was part of an international strategy for the conservation of large carnivores throughout Europe, funded by WWF International. As general objective, it seeked to encourage the spontaneous return of the large carnivores to the Alps and to maintain populations in good shape. A significant part of the project consisted of extensive awareness campaigns, mainly directed at the inhabitants of areas potentially suitable for carnivores. Activities were to be undertaken to reconcile the conservation of these species with economic activities (agriculture, stockraising, forestry) and recreation (tourism, hunting, etc). Modern information technology (GIS) was to be used to plan and monitor the activities. The project also included innovative measures to limit damages to livestock, such as training and handing out sheepdogs to the herdsmen.

RESULTS

The project has obtained local and specific objectives: the beneficiary has carried out all the actions foreseen, involving the interested social groups. However, some of the objectives of the project, the harmonization of the conservation of larger carnivores with the agricultural and hunting activities, the evaluation of the Natura 2000 sites for the conservation of the species, the lobbying activity on the stray dogs and cats problems, the establishment of an Italian/Slovenian co-ordinating committee on the transboundary bear conservation, have not been obtained.

Two action plans, one on the Canis lupus and the second one on the Lynx lynx, and the supplement to the action plan of the Ursus arctos have been prepared.

A data bank on all records of the three carnivores in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has been created and put online by the Udine University.

The data collected, the methodologies developed and the network established thanks to the LIFE project, represent a good starting point to encourage local and national policies directed at the conservation of the 3 species object of the project.

The use of guard dogs as compensatory measures to shepherds has been experimented with good results.

The prevention, compensation and awareness raising among the stakeholders has been the most relevant action of the project. It has involved the relevant social groups and has obtained good results. One side result has been the promotion of a proper management of the compensation measures by the local authorities. In this framework, the contact established with the Coldiretti, a national farmers association, represents a first instance of involvement of this important social group in actions directed at the conservation of the 3 species object of the project.

The project has obtained local and specific objectives: the beneficiary has carried out all the actions foreseen, involving the interested social groups. However, some of the objectives of the project, the harmonization of the conservation of larger carnivores with the agricultural and hunting activities, the evaluation of the Natura 2000 sites for the conservation of the species, the lobbying activity on the stray dogs and cats problems, the establishment of an Italian/Slovenian co-ordinating committee on the transboundary bear conservation, have not been obtained.

Two action plans, one on the Canis lupus and the second one on the Lynx lynx, and the supplement to the action plan of the Ursus arctos have been prepared.

A data bank on all records of the three carnivores in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has been created and put online by the Udine University.

The data collected, the methodologies developed and the network established thanks to the LIFE project, represent a good starting point to encourage local and national policies directed at the conservation of the 3 species object of the project.

The use of guard dogs as compensatory measures to shepherds has been experimented with good results.

The prevention, compensation and awareness raising among the stakeholders has been the most relevant action of the project. It has involved the relevant social groups and has obtained good results. One side result has been the promotion of a proper management of the compensation measures by the local authorities. In this framework, the contact established with the Coldiretti, a national farmers association, represents a first instance of involvement of this important social group in actions directed at the conservation of the 3 species object of the project.