“Project supported by the LIFE+ Programme of the European Union”

Action Plan for the conservation of the brown bear population in Romania

Layman’s Report 2021

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Life for Bear

LIFE PROJECT

Conservation of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) population in Romania

LIFE FOR BEAR – LIFE13 NAT/RO/001154

 

Implementation period: oct 2014-oct2019 (prolonged: dec2021)

This project is funded by the European Commission through the LIFE + Natura program and is implemented by the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Dracea” – Brasov Resort, (former ICAS), as coordinating beneficiary, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Carpathian Foundation, Bucegi Natural Park Administration, Kronstadt Local Forests Public Administration RA, Râşnov Forest District RA as associate beneficiaries.

This project started in an innovative way, bringing in addition to what was previously applied, an integrated vision of a complex management of bear-man conflicts, by testing new methods, improving those previously applied, respectively optimizing the necessary solutions to reduce conflicts. The results will lead to the identification of effective means to reduce the negative impact of urban development on the conservation of the bear population and improve the education of the general public on the protection of this species, having an effect on all habitats and species in the area.

 

PROJECT PROGRESS

The project ″ Conservation of the brown bear population (Ursus arctos) in Romania ″ started on 03.10.2014 and is being implemented still. The completion period for some actions had to be extended. The new deadline for completion of the project is 31.12.2021. The project did not encounter major technical difficulties in achieving the objectives of the actions, but there were some delays in achieving deliverables, delays that do not affect the overall progress of the project.

During the implementation of the project, political / administrative changes took place within the decision-making institutions directly involved in the management of the brown bear species. Along with the political / administrative changes, there have been changes in the attitude of people who carry out activities regarding the bear species and / or its habitat and the attitude of people whose activities are influenced by the presence and actions of bears. At the same time, the media attention has increased on issues related to the bear species, so the management of this species in Romania has created controversy and has become a very sensitive topic for several groups: people who have to coexist with the brown bear species, animal lovers who do not live in areas visited by bears, game fund managers, hunters, public administrations, environmental activists, researchers, conservationists.

In 2018, the Ministry of Environment demonstrated an active participation by getting involved in the implementation and approval by OM 625 / 28.06.2018 of the “Action Plan for the conservation of the brown bear population (Ursus arctos arctos) in Romania”. The action plan, developed within the C1 activity, integrates elements from the project actions. The Ministry of Environment submitted a project and obtained POIM structural funds to implement actions from this Plan. The project “Implementation of the National Action Plan for the conservation of the brown bear population in Romania”, SMIS Code 136899, is carried out between 08.07.2021 – 31.12.2023, by the beneficiary Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, in partnership with the National Directorate of Forests ROMSILVA, National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Drăcea and Local Public Management of Forests Kronstadt RA. With the implementation of this large-scale project, sustainability is ensured, by replicating and transferring the actions of the LIFE FOR BEAR project.