Project Objectives
The project's objectives are:
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To improve the conservation status of the species in terms of population levels and trends, by achieving a sustainable human-bear co-existence status through the minimization of bear-human interference and subsequent conflicts that are detrimental to the species;
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To maintain human caused mortality at a sustainable level (i.e., not exceeding 4% of the minimum estimated population) in the project area;
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To maintain the number of annual reproductive females at no less than 10-12% of the minimum estimated bear population in the targeted areas;
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To improve the tolerance level of specific target groups regarding their coexistence with the brown bear;
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To improve awareness about the added value the presence of the brown bear can confer on the project area (e.g. through labelling of local produce);
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To increase the knowledge of the national park authorities staff on specific bear monitoring and management techniques; and
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To put in place self-sustainable initiatives (such as providing guard dogs) that can prevent human-bear conflicts in the long term.