The fourth conference of the Dinaric-Balkan-Pindos Platform took place 16-17 November 2023, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. The conference brought together managing authorities and stakeholders from participating countries to discuss the establishment of a long-term collaboration through an international agreement and practical measures to improve large carnivore management (monitoring, dealing with incidents, working with hunters, improving connectivity). Through a series of break out groups, topics such as monitoring, bear intervention teams, hunters involvement and institutional structure were examined in detail. These groups will continue to meet outside the main platform meetings.

December 5-6 a smaller capacity-building event brought together large carnivore managers from Croatia, North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina to exchange on the establishing of a national large carnivore committee on day 1 and management of intervention teams for large carnivores on day 2. The activities contribute towards North Macedonia’s plans to establish a bear management plan.

More information on the initiative is available online.