EU Platform working on solutions for a coexistence between humans and large carnivores

After decades near extinction large carnivore numbers in the EU are slowly recovering. While a conservation success story, this poses potential challenges in areas where people are no longer used to carnivores. adelphi is supporting the European Commission in their work with a stakeholder platform.

Brown bear, wolf, wolverines, Eurasian and Iberian lynx are among the most challenging species for European nature conservation. This is partly due to their large territories which exceed national borders meaning different management regimes within and outside the EU need to be involved. Moreover, large carnivores potentially conflict with human economic activities such as farming and hunting and in rare cases even threaten human safety.

In June 2014, the European Commission established the "EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores". With the help of this Platform, the EC seeks to find solutions for the social and economic problems that can be associated with large carnivores' expansion in range and numbers in certain areas. It is designed as a communication and information platform and aims to provide livestock herders, farmers, hunters, conservationists, landowners and scientists with a forum for exchanging ideas and sharing best practices.

Together with Callisto, a Greek NGO specialising in Large Carnivores, adelphi is supporting the European Commission with the development of a communication strategy, a web platform and online resource centre, together with the collection of case studies and assistance with the organisation of the annual meeting in Brussels and various workshops.

» EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores