The EU-funded Carnivora Dinarica project has improved the conservation status of large carnivores, especially lynxes, wolves and bears, in the forests of the northern Dinaric Alps, around the Croatia-Slovenia border. To enhance cross-border management of large carnivores, the project strengthened collaboration between institutions from the two countries and harmonised conservation and management measures for wolf and lynx populations. Partners performed joint analysis to improve understanding of ecosystem services provided by large carnivores and threats to corridors between habitats.
- 17 June 2020
It’s very important that the fence always has electricity, even if the animals are not in the pen. That way, large carnivores will associate touching the electric fence with pain and no longer approach, no longer attack the livestock.
Activities to reduce threats to large carnivores included showcasing of good farming practices, installation of electric fences and training of guard dogs to stop large carnivores attacking livestock. Road signs that light up when animals are present were erected, and bear-proof bins acquired.
An enclosure for abandoned lynx cubs was set up, and tourist management measures were undertaken in Croatia’s Risnjak National Park. A visitors' centre was opened in Pivka, Slovenia with an interactive exhibition on large carnivores and their relationship with humans.
Universities, public institutions, municipalities, forestry services and wildlife associations participated in the project.
Important habitats
Home to some 20 lynxes, 50 wolves and 600 bears, the Dinaric forests of Croatia and Slovenia are important habitats for carnivores. They play a vital role in maintaining local ecosystems and biodiversity and have long coexisted with humans in the area.
Targeting the Natura 2000 protected areas of Javorniki-Snežnik and Notranjski trikotnik in Slovenia and Gorski kotar i sjeverna Lika in Croatia, Carnivora Dinarica partners addressed three challenges: development of cross-border management strategies for large carnivores; mitigation of threats to large carnivores, especially those from humans, such as transport and agriculture; and raising awareness of the importance of coexistence between large carnivores and humans.
In contrast with previous projects, Carnivora Dinarica – which built on positive cooperation between scientists and experts from the two countries – tackled these issues through the systematic transfer of knowledge from research to local level, thereby complementing national and EU policies. The focus on threats to habitats posed by agriculture marked another departure from past actions.
Public attention
Awareness raising involved training for more than 280 national and local stakeholders and residents of areas where large carnivores are present, as well as workshops and activities in schools. Newsletters were sent to local households to give people a sense of involvement, while the project website was regularly updated with information on large carnivores and how to behave around them.
As a result, Carnivora Dinarica received considerable attention. All measures implemented under the project are designed to be sustainable in the long term.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Carnivora Dinarica” is EUR 2 333 997, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 983 897 through the “Interreg V-A – Slovenia-Croatia” Cooperation Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources”.