PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In 1999, when this project was launched, there was little known about the brown bear sub-species (Ursus arctos marsicanus) except that it lived only in the central Appennines and had a very small population, but was still capable of reproducing.
This project covered a significant proportion of its distribution area: including 10 proposed sites of Community importance (pSCI) and one special protection area (SPA). Throughout this area, there are various kinds of social and economic human activities that adversely affect conservation of the bear (tourism, stock rearing, farming, use of woods, hunting, etc).
The main problems for survival of the sub-species was a lack of information on the exact size of the population, together with demographic details (age, distribution of sexes, etc) and state of health, all of which affect its reproduction potential. Other threats were poor legal protection, lack of co-ordination between the various organisations responsible for conservation, land use management, and finally, conflict between those who would like to use the land for purposes incompatible with nature conservation and protection of the bears.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s global objective was the conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) in the central Apennines. Specific objectives were to:
- Carry out a census of the brown bear sub-species through DNA techniques;
- Identify a conservation area for the bear;
- Check and monitor its health status
- Draw up an action plan and management plan for the state forests and pSCIs;
- Develop legislation for its conservation, including habitat management measures.
RESULTS
The project achieved most of its objectives.
- DNA analysis was carried out to implement a census of the brown bear. From 643 biological samples taken from fur traps (no bears were captured) the project estimated a population of at least 26 bears in the study area, indicative of a very low bear population density.
- Various habitat management measures were successfully implemented including the recovery and plantation of thousands of fruit trees, as well as the provision of food sources in set-aside cultivated fields.
- A number of important studies were also conducted including a study to define the conservation area/ home range of the brown bear. This showed the distribution of suitable areas for the brown bear and current obstacles, namely the fragmentation of its habitat in the central Apennines.
Less successful were measures towards the development of conservation and management plans. Although a conservation plan for the brown bear was developed, practical measures for the conservation of the bear were vague. For example, there was no time-table for implementation included and actions were not prioritised). Furthermore, the plans developed by the project were too generic (i.e. they referred to the state forests rather than Natura 2000 sites). In addition, a bill on the conservation of the bear that was foreseen at the start of the project eventually only included a proposal for the management of hunting.
Various awareness raising actions were also carried out involving the majority of the local schools and the organisation of numerous public events. The project achieved most of its objectives.
- DNA analysis was carried out to implement a census of the brown bear. From 643 biological samples taken from fur traps (no bears were captured) the project estimated a population of at least 26 bears in the study area, indicative of a very low bear population density.
- Various habitat management measures were successfully implemented including the recovery and plantation of thousands of fruit trees, as well as the provision of food sources in set-aside cultivated fields.
- A number of important studies were also conducted including a study to define the conservation area/ home range of the brown bear. This showed the distribution of suitable areas for the brown bear and current obstacles, namely the fragmentation of its habitat in the central Apennines.
Less successful were measures towards the development of conservation and management plans. Although a conservation plan for the brown bear was developed, practical measures for the conservation of the bear were vague. For example, there was no time-table for implementation included and actions were not prioritised). Furthermore, the plans developed by the project were too generic (i.e. they referred to the state forests rather than Natura 2000 sites). In addition, a bill on the conservation of the bear that was foreseen at the start of the project eventually only included a proposal for the management of hunting.
Various awareness raising actions were also carried out involving the majority of the local schools and the organisation of numerous public events.
