Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise
LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors | Rewilding Apennines
Description: LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors aims to boost populations of the brown bear in Central Italy and Greece through the development of “coexistence corridors”.
In Europe, 4 of the 10 populations of brown bear are assessed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN . Greece harbours Europe’s southernmost population of the species with only 400-500 individuals in two disjunct populations in the Rhodopes and Pindos mountain ranges. The Apennines are home to an endemic subspecies – the Marsican brown bear that is critically endangered and restricted to the central part of the Apennine Mountain chain.
LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors aims to improve conditions for bears in critical dispersal corridors in Italy and Greece. These corridors will link national parks in the region. Ultimately, this will allow the bears to expand their range into new areas.
Withing these aptly named “coexistence corridors” local communities will learn to live alongside the iconic brown bear. Here, the Bear Smart Community model will be adopted, which encourages cooperation between local communities, businesses, and individuals to prevent conflict between bears and humans.
Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise
LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors | Rewilding Apennines