Coexistence with large carnivores: the role of Protected Areas
EUROPARC is actively working to improve coexistence between people and large carnivores in and around Protected Areas.
This workshop, which was organized in partnership with the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores (*), aimed to better identify the needs and challenges Protected Areas and managing authorities are facing to implement processes and measures for coexistence.
For this a specific participatory session took place during the meeting, giving around 50 participants from 14 countries the chance to share concrete needs, challenges, perspectives and to propose solutions.
The workshop was also an opportunity to provide an update on progress made at EU level for the conservation of large carnivores, looking at policy developments, European platforms and project implementation, with an insight on new targets for the future and the role of Protected Areas.
During the workshop we also presented and shared some concrete case studies, looking at the role and experiences of Protected Areas in leading and promoting processes and measures for coexistence in their areas. We focused our attention on effective communication, participatory process, partnership building and damage prevention measures.
(*)The EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores brings together different interest groups with a common mission: “To promote ways and means to minimize, and wherever possible find solutions to, conflicts between human interests and the presence of large carnivore species, by exchanging knowledge and by working together in an open-ended, constructive and mutually respectful way”
Workshop Programme
Welcome and introduction by Federico Minozzi – EUROPARC Federation
European policy updates and initiatives to strengthen coexistence
- Marco Cipriani – European Commission.
- Katrina Marsden – EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores.
Working towards coexistence: the role and needs of Protected Areas
Participatory exercise in groups.
– Break –
Case studies
- Support coexistence with large carnivores through partnerships. By Valeria Salvatori, Istituto di Ecologia Applicata, Italy.
- Wolf/Human Coexistence. Research and Management in Maiella National Park. By Simone Angelucci & Antonio Antonucci, Majella National Park, Italy.
- Human and Iberian Lynx conflict: the challenge of peaceful coexistence. By Guillermo Zamora, Junta de Andalucia, Spain.
Conclusions
WORKSHOP REPORT
To capture the value and outcomes of this workshop, we prepared a Workshop Report which summarizes the main aspects raised and discussed during the session and provides the opportunity to access all the presentations, materials and recordings of the event.