Good Practice

Library of useful documents

Handbook for Monitoring of Large Carnivores in the Dinaric-Balkan-Pindos region

This handbook was developed as a collaboration between experts and members of the DiBaPi Platform monitoring group. The monitoring group’s input was gathered during 5 workshops, led by WWF Adria and DivjaLabs, at the plenary platform meetings. This directly informed the development of these practical guidelines and helped tailor them to specific needs identified by the DiBaPi countries.

Large Carnivores in the Dinarides: Management, Monitoring, Threats and Conflicts

This background report assesses the situation regarding the current status of large carnivores, their management and monitoring, threats and conflicts in the Dinaric Region.

Assessing diet composition in Croatian wolf population: Insights from DNA metabarcoding analysis

This report presents the findings of wolf diet analysis by applying DNA metabarcoding analysis of the 60 selected faeces samples collected during 2022 for the purpose of Croatian national wolf monitoring.

Large carnivore distribution maps and population updates 2017 – 2022/23

This report offers the latest overview of the distribution and population sizes of brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), golden jackal (Canis aureus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo) at the European continental scale, covering 34 countries.

Carnivore Damage Prevention News (CDP news)

This newsletter is focused on the challenges of human-carnivore coexistence, aiming to raise awareness, foster collaboration, and enhance knowledge sharing across regions and disciplines.

Carnivora Dinarica Project outcomes

This project focused on three main common challenges relating to large carnivore management between Croatia and Slovenia. These were addressing gaps in the cross-border management of large carnivores, reducing the risks that threaten large carnivores (particularly the growing pressure of humans) and raising awareness of the role large carnivores play in the ecosystem.

Protecting Property from Large Carnivores

Download leaflet on reducing large carnivore damages.

We are guests in nature

Download leaflet:

What a difference Large Carnivores Make

Poster on the ecosystem benefits provided by large carnivores

Large Carnivores in Croatia

Download factsheet here:

Project videos

Videos from the project describing coexistence with large carnivores and measures to protect livestock

Playlist of all Carnivora Dinarica Videos

EU Platform on coexistence between people and large carnivores outcomes

Video describing the establishment of regional and local platforms on large carnivores

Toolkit describing establishment of regional and local platforms on large carnivores

Livestock depredation and large carnivores in Europe: Overview for the EU Platform

Good Practice examples

Capacity building

Capacity building for future large carnivore experts

^{In recent years, civil society organizations in the Balkans have made positive strides in environmental and species conservation, but face a shortage of qualified staff, prompting the development of a capacity building program that trains and supports young conservationists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro through a one-week training and a small grant program for practical conservation efforts.}

Public Education

Educational lynx trail

_{The Lynx Educational Trail in Slovenia was developed with the involvement of local stakeholders from tourism and forestry organisations and the local mountaineering club to support the endangered Eurasian lynx population by increasing public support.}

Promoting Coexistence

The Bear Friendly Label

_{The Bear Friendly label, awarded in farming, tourism, and active promotion categories, recognizes local efforts in coexistence with large carnivores, evaluated by a diverse committee, and aims to foster a balanced human-bear relationship through effective damage prevention, responsible tourism, and informative local handicrafts.}

Good practice examples

Capacity building for future large carnivore experts ・ BiH, Republika Srpska, Montenegro ・ Capacity Building

Capacity building for future large carnivore experts

Category: Capacity building
Duration: 2019 - 2023
Location: BiH, Republika Srpska, Montenegro
Organisations:
- EuroNatur Foundation (DE)
- Centar za zivotnu sredinu - CZZS (BiH)
- CZIP Centar za zastitu proucavanje ptica (Montenegro)
Contact person: Antje Henkelmann - antje.henkelmann@euronatur.org
Target species: Large carnivores

Introduction

Recent years have seen a positive development of civil society organisations in the Balkans, amongst other things connected to environmental topics and species conservation programs. There is, however, still a significant lack of qualified and experienced staff in some countries and large carnivore experts are urgently needed.

To address this issue and thereby create the basis for the long term and professional implementation of LC projects, the EuroNatur Foundation supported by the Bernd Thies Foundation developed and implemented a capacity building programme together with our partners from CZZS and CZIP. The programme aimed to identify, train and support young conservationists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in a professional career in LC conservation, management and research.

The approach was based on two components (i) a one-week training programme (field school) for LC conservation with both practical and theoretical lessons and (ii) a subsequent small grant program for high potential participants of the field school enabling the implementation of small but targeted actions focusing on conservation of LCs and gain hands-on experience.

Key actions

Objective 1: Gain a better understanding of the current status, obstacles and needs in capacities for LC conservation in the Balkans, especially in BiH and MNE

Survey to identify needs for capacity building for LCs in Balkan countries

Objective 2: Interested persons are informed about LC work in BiH/MNE and receive information on “Large carnivore field school”

Information events at universities and among additional stakeholder groups (hunters, protected area staff etc)
Selection of participants for field school based on letter of motivation and CV

Objective 3: One-week “Large Carnivore field school” is planned and implemented

Set up programme with practical and theoretical lessons and conduct field school

Objective 4: High-potential persons are involved in (existing) projects and supported for a career in LC conservation

Call for applications for small grants for LC conservation projects
Support and supervise the implementation of the winning proposals including networking

Results

So far, we have been able to hold two LC field schools in BiH and one in MNE. In addition, there were two Calls for proposals under the small grant scheme.

The combined approach has proven a very successful tool for raising capacities among young professionals and it is very desirable to continue and replicate the approach in other countries of the region. However, equally important is to make use of the capacities created and enable a long-term commitment to a career in LC conservation.

Financing

The capacity building programme has been implemented with financial support of Bernd Thies Foundation and EuroNatur Foundation.

Educational lynx trail ・ Slovenia ・ Public Education