The LIFE DinPin Bear project aims to set the legal, managerial and socio-economic conditions for assuring the conservation of the Dinaric-Pindos population of brown bears (Ursus arctos). The project will target large areas of each country’s bear ranges that share the population and participate in the project. The LIFE DinPin Bear will implement best practices and innovative tools for reaching the conservation of bears.
The studies and monitoring activities represent a large part of the project. These include assessment of habitat and population level fragmentation, genetic monitoring, assessment of population connectivity through telemetry, analysis of damage cases and damage compensation schemes.
The basic approach of the LIFE DinPin Bear project is to target the threats and conservation challenges for the Dinaric-Pindos bear population at an integral, transboundary level. Conservation work will be focused on activities to increase connectivity, conflict management, stakeholder involvement, Bear Intervention Teams, design of management plans and guidelines, capacity building about management and prevention of illegal killing and Bear Smart Communities.
The main goal of the LIFE DinPin Bear project is to contribute to the long-term conservation of the Dinaric-Pindos brown bear population by improving the environmental, social and legal conditions for its conservation at the population level. The aim will be to provide the tools for the responsible authorities, management bodies, and all other institutional stakeholders with a mandate to guarantee bear conservation and management in the long run. The overall approach will be accompanied by a comprehensive stakeholder engagement dimension, materialized in the establishment of a Regional Platform with a broad representation of stakeholder members.
To achieve this, the project has the following objectives:
- Assure the availability of a sound knowledge basis regarding bear distribution, numbers, the conflicts bears generate and the threats they are affected by;
- Reduction of habitat fragmentation in demonstration areas identified in the frame of the preparatory activities;
- Reduce conflict with human activities and provide tools to support coexistence;
- Reduce illegal killing;
- Strengthen the legal basis and capacity for conducting continuous and adequate management practices;
- Ensure long-term cooperation in population-level management;
- Secure the support of key stakeholder groups to ensure the long-term conservation of the species
PROJECT PARTNERS:
The project will be implemented in nine countries with the involvement of 21 partners, including universities and research institutions, national and local management authorities and environmental NGOs:
EuroNatur – Germany, DivjaLabs – Slovenia, Slovenian Forest Service (SFS) – Slovenia, University of Zagreb – Croatia, Ministry of Agriculture – Croatia, Center for Environment (CZZS) – Republika Srpska, Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage – Republika Srpska, Resource Environmental Center (REC) – Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism – Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Institute of Nature Conservation of Serbia (INCS) – Serbia, University of Belgrad – Serbia, Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP) – Montenegro, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Montenegro, Environmentally Responsible Action Group (ERA) – Kosovo, Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure – Kosovo, Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) – Albania, National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA) – Albania, Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) – North Macedonia, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning – North Macedonia, Callisto NGO – Greece, Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) – Greece.
DURATION:
5.5 years (starting from January 2026)
COUNTRIES:
Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina/Republika Srpska), Greece, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia
BUDGET:
€ 9.426.977,15. Co-funded at 75% by the EU’s LIFE Programme
CONTACT PERSON:
Melitjan Nezaj
Project Manager