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

The Dinaric Region in the Western Balkans is one of the most biologically diverse regions in Europe. It is also home to the three large carnivore species: bear, wolf and lynx (Balkan and Eurasian lynx), shared between EU and non-EU member states.

Given the extensive ranges of these species, transnational coordination for their management is desirable to enable a long-term basis for their conservation. To date, only few transboundary initiatives on the project topic exist between the governments concerned.

This background report assesses the situation regarding the current status of large carnivores, their management and monitoring, threats and conflicts in the Dinaric Region. It gives an overview of the situation in each country and compares this with previous evaluations.

This serves as a necessary basis for further discussions between the governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia to discuss joint working on nature conservation and large carnivore management.

The report is also available for download in Albanian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovenian and Serbian.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be without prejudice to positions on status, and in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.