PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Carpathian Mountains are an important biodiversity reservoir for the brown bear (Ursos arctos) and wolf (Canis lupus). However, an assessment of environmental suitability for large carnivores (LCIE 2008) identified the isolation of the Apuseni Mountains (Western Carpathians) from the Southern Carpathians in Romania as a pressing connectivity issue. Passing through a network of 17 Natura 2000 sites, the ApuseniLink is fragmented, but is the only key route through which bears, wolves and other wildlife can move between the Western and Southern Carpathians. It is therefore crucial to ensure that the bears and wolves in the Apuseni Mountains do not become demographically, genetically or ecologically isolated and thus to advance the process to achieve and maintain the favourable conservation status of both the bear and wolf in this region.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Connect Carpathians project focused on the landscape corridor, the Apuseni Link, which is critically important for the conservation of the target species. Specifically, the project aimed to:
increase functional connectivity through the securing and restoring of critical habitat and landscape features and the promotion of sympathetic land management in the wider area; address the direct threats namely human-wildlife conflict and the poaching of bears and wolves as well as associated prey species within the corridor and build up local knowledge to allow the co-existence of humans and large carnivores; promote integrated conservation of the landscape by developing the information base and capacity of responsible agencies and developing Regional Species Action Plans and harmonised forestry and hunting strategies for the bear and wolf, their habitats and prey, in the corridor; and enhance the awareness and support of the local population and other stakeholders for the conservation of the bear and wolf and the Natura 2000 sites in the corridor.
RESULTS
The LIFE Connect Carpathians project adopted a participatory approach to implementing landscape-scale conservation within the Apuseni-Southern Carpathian corridor that comprises 17 Natura 2000 sites. LCC increased capacity for conservation management, secured ecological connectivity at a pinch point, reduced damages caused by bear and wolf and resolved associated conflicts, developed species action plans for bear and wolf and enhanced the awareness and support for large carnivores and conservation.
Specifically, the project achieved the following main results:
regional Species Actions Plans for bear and wolf for the corridor were developed and approved by the ministry of environment; landscape connectivity for bear and wolf was secured across the Mures River Valley pinch point, through the purchase of 477 tranches of land totalling 133 ha; restoration of 133 ha of purchased land including 45 ha of abandoned agricultural land cleared of invasive alien species (Amorpha fruticosa) and subsequently planted with native trees or restored to agricultural land to enhance functional connectivity of the corridor for large carnivores; the impact of bear, wolf and wild boar on farming households was reduced through the deployment of damage prevention measures. A total of 90 households received damage prevention measures across nine Natura 2000 sites. Measures included the installation of 88 electric fences, the allocation of 12 livestock guard dogs and the use of a chemical repellent; a human-wildlife incident response team was established, responding to 37 incidences by bears, wolves and other wildlife. The team is serving as a model for creating regional intervention teams; the gendarmerie created two anti-poaching units to carry out patrols through the corridor. Anecdotal reports indicate that illegal activities have declined over the project lifetime and that communities are appreciative of the presence of gendarmerie. Legislation was also amended to enable gendarmes to operate tranquiliser weapons, marking a significant shift in wildlife management policy; engagement with foresters and hunters throughout the corridor to demonstrate measures to harmonise forestry and hunting practices with conservation objectives. A total of 15 forestry management plans were harmonised and hunting practices amended to support the favourable conservation status of bear and wolf. Hunters also positively engaged in ecological monitoring, increasing knowledge of bears and wolves, and deployment of damage prevention measures, building positive relationships with local communities; more than 2 000 stakeholders were engaged through project events such as training, workshops, meetings and direct engagement in conservation actions, including ecological monitoring. There were measurable positive changes in stakeholders attitudes and perceptions towards conservation and bears and wolves, with stakeholders being provided with the skills and knowledge to facilitate coexistence. The restoration of the purchased land generated 30 000 of net income for full-time and seasonal daily labourers from the local community, provided firewood to disadvantaged households and engaged local communities in conservation actions. Economic benefits also resulted from reduced damage caused by wildlife; ecological surveys, spatial modelling and analyses of official data were used to assess and monitor the conservation status of bear and wolf. Permeability of the corridor increased across the Mures River Valley pinch point due to the projects land purchase and habitat restoration activities. Genetic studies found no evidence of genetic isolation of bear and wolf within the corridor, and the presence of bears and wolves was recorded in areas where official data indicated that they were not present. The conservation status of bear and wolf in the corridor was assessed as unfavourable for bear due to decreases in landscape permeability and unknown for wolf due to the uncertainty surrounding the impact of decreases in landscape permeability on this species; and a wide range of communication materials were produced, including a general project leaflet, best practice booklets for raising sheepdogs and reducing damages caused by wildlife, a brochure on landscape-scale conservation and an educational booklet. A total of 17 noticeboards were installed in each Natura 2000 site and an 18-minute film about the project was made. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
