On February 12, a meeting dedicated to the coexistence of humans and large carnivores in the Polish part of the Eastern Carpathians was held in Lutowiska. The event was organized by WWF Poland as part of the “Supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian LargE CArnivores” (LECA) project. The meeting was attended by representatives of local governments, state administration, agricultural chambers, farmers, foresters, NGOs and the scientific community.
The Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOP PAN) was represented by MSc Teresa Berezowska-Cnota and Dr Agnieszka Olszańska, who gave a brief presentation on IOP PAN’s research on the biology and ecology of the brown bear – including studies conducted in the Bieszczady Mountains. She also introduced the CoCo project (“Co-creating coexistence: Advancing policies, practices, and stakeholder engagement for integrating wildlife and livestock into sustainable multi-functional landscapes in Europe”), funded by the Horizon Europe program.
The dialogue initiated in September 2024 was continued, this time focusing on preventive measures. Discussions addressed preventing damage caused by large carnivores, educating the public, and establishing an intervention group to respond quickly to incidents involving bears or wolves.
WWF Poland has presented proposals for actions and practical solutions aimed at mitigating human-bear conflicts. Emphasis was placed on the need to eliminate or properly secure attractants that may lure bears closer to human settlements, primarily easily accessible anthropogenic waste (such as garbage piles, compost bins, and illegal waste dumps). Participants agreed on the importance of preventive measures and the systematic use of solutions proved effective (e.g., bear-resistant waste containers provided to municipalities by WWF Poland). They also emphasized the need for education, not only for residents but also for tourists, and the necessity of developing and implementing a more effective conflict response system.
The high attendance and active engagement of attendees reaffirmed the significance of human-wildlife coexistence for local communities. We thank the organizers for the opportunity to participate and look forward to the next steps in implementing joint actions!
By Teresa Berezowska-Cnota and Agnieszka Olszańska