Transboundary Brown Bear Conservation (TBBC)

Through TBBC, we are continuing the successful path of the previous Tripoint Brown Bear (TBB) Project in protecting Brown Bears and their habitats in the transboundary regions between Albania, Greece, and North Macedonia.

TBBC focuses on 6 strategic goals:

• Promoting cooperation for sustainable transboundary conservation: Formation of sustainable networks between stakeholders, e.g., identifying key habitat linkages between countries. Development of tools, production of guidelines, and implementation of measures to improve connectivity, e.g. land-use planning or road mortality mitigation;
• Developing transboundary bear monitoring: Establishment of cross-border monitoring initiatives, cooperation with stakeholders and creation of a shared database to enhance knowledge of the species and guide conservation efforts;
• Mitigating human-bear conflicts by involving Bear Intervention Team (BIT): Implementation of conflict mitigation measures (electric fencing, etc.) as well as joint interventions in bear-related emergency cases by a trained BIT using common operational protocols;
• Capacity building against wildlife crime: Lobbying for national anti-poaching laws and legal action in poaching cases. Collaboration with law enforcement, joint anti-poaching training. Capacity building through cross-border exchange of knowledge;
• Increasing public awareness and encouraging stakeholder involvement: Conduct public awareness campaigns and educational programs. Engage local stakeholders. Produce a project documentary about co-existence with the brown bear.

The project area will remain similar to TBB, and the project activities will be mainly focused on the transboundary mountain areas between the countries.

Target Groups:

• Local, regional, and national decision-makers
• Relevant ministries and agencies responsible for large carnivores’ management
• Protected area managers
• Hunters´ associations
• Nature conservation organizations
• Universities
• General public and media
• Local communities

PROJECT PARTNERS:

Euronatur (Germany), PPNEA (Albania), Callisto (Greece), Eko-svest and MES (both North Macedonia)

DURATION:

01.07.2024-30.06.2026 (2 years)

COUNTRIES:

Albania, Greece and North Macedonia

CONTACT PERSON:

Melitjan Nezaj

[email protected]