PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project will target the Dinara-Pindos sub-population of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). This is the third largest brown bear population in the EU, as well as the southernmost distribution of the species in Europe. The bear population in the project area (the Northern Pindos national park and the municipality of Grevena) is an estimated 140 individuals, representing some 35% of the total brown bear population in Greece.
Data on the species in Greece collected over the last 10 years, primarily through previous LIFE projects, show that bear-human interference is becoming an increasing problem for the conservation of the species. This in turn is attributed to three main factors: (i) positive trends in local bear sub-populations that have resulted in bears expanded their range into areas that were part of the species’s historical range; (ii) habitat fragmentation, disturbance and the barrier effect caused by transport infrastructure (for example, the Egnatia Highway); and (c) negligence and lack of correct management of human related food sources, such as domestic refuse.
These are the main factors accounting for human-bear conflict situations, which if not appropriately managed, are likely to jeopardise any previous efforts that have been deployed in order to bring and to maintain the species at an “adequately favourable” conservation status.
The main threats to the species include human-caused bear mortality, habitat degradation and habitat loss, and an inadequate level of information and awareness amongst specific target groups.
OBJECTIVES
The project's objectives are:
To improve the conservation status of the species in terms of population levels and trends, by achieving a sustainable human-bear co-existence status through the minimisation of bear-human interference and subsequent conflicts that are detrimental to the species; To maintain human caused mortality at a sustainable level (i.e., not exceeding 4% of the minimum estimated population) in the project area; To maintain the number of annual reproductive females at no less than 10-12% of the minimum estimated bear population in the targeted areas; To improve the tolerance level of specific target groups regarding their coexistence with the brown bear; To improve awareness about the added value the presence of the brown bear can confer on the project area (e.g. through labelling of local produce); To increase the knowledge of the national park authorities staff on specific bear monitoring and management techniques; and To put in place self-sustainable initiatives (such as providing guard dogs) that can prevent human-bear conflicts in the long term. Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results: • To maintain the human- caused bear mortality rate at <4% of the estimated minimum bear population of the project area; • To maintain the number of yearly reproductive females at no less than 10-12% of the minimum estimated bear population in the project area; • To successfully manage at least 10 human-bear interference cases per year; • Improved bear tolerance levels amongst local communities; • Improved awareness levels amongst specific target groups; • Promotion of the added values of the presence of the bear in the area, through labelling of local agricultural products; and • Promotion of the value of volunteering in furthering nature conservation goals.
