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Role of the RDP 2007-2013 in minimising conflicts between large carnivores and

farming

Janez KastelicMinistrstvo za okolje in prostor

(Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia)janez.kastelic@gov.si

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http://www.ours.ecologie.gouv.fr/html/_3_.php

Past and present distributionof the brown bear in Europe

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Spatial extension 1976 - 1995

Till 18th century abundant speciesAt the beginning of 20th cent. there were 30 – 40 bears in Slovenia (estimation1940 – about 80 bears (estimation)Present situation: 500 - 700 bears (monitoring)

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NATURA 2000 in Slovenia

SPA - 26 sites (22,8 %)pSCI - 260 sites (31,6 %)Total - 35, 5 %

9 % above 900 m70 % forests

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62.380 km2 – 12 %

DE – 0,7 %!FR – 0,4 %!

NATURA 2000 in Slovenia

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Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Management Strategy in Slovenia (2002)

The aims of the strategy are: * long-term conservation of the brown bear species in Slovenia, including its habitat * ensuring coexistence of humans and bears.

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Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Management Strategy in Slovenia (2002)

Brown bear Strategy

Habitats directiveRural development plan

2007-2013

Long-term conservation of the brown bear species in

Slovenia, including its habitat

Ensuring coexistence of humans and bears

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Conflicts in landscape

• direct attacks (very rare, 1-2 each year)

conflicts in agricultural areas• sheep and goats• beehives• orchards…

contacts with people• local people (in villages, forest works)• tourists (hikers, mushroom collectors, bikers)

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Management measures

Population management measuresRDP measuresPreventive measuresCompensation system Intervention groupPublic awareness

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Habitat directive

Population management measures– monitoring– population control (spatial, age, sex, condition) – strictly controlled encroachment– translocation (from urban areas to core areas)– feeding (controversial issue)

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CAP measures

Single farm payment

LFA payments

Agri-environment payments for grasslands

Animal husbandry in the central areas of appearance of large

carnivores

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Habitat directive objectives

Conservation of large carnivores• assure favorable conservation status

• maintain habitat

Grassland species and habitat types• maintain grasslands (mainly pastures)• stop natural succession (afforestation)

This is achievable with grazing (sheep, cow, horse,…).

This is achievable with close to nature and sustainable forest management

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Compensation system

Nature Conservation Act• provide the right to compensation• define that estimation of damage is made by SFS• MESP, EARS makes the final decision on whether the damage must be compensated or not

Wild Game and Hunting Act • define compensation procedure

Instructions of MESP• defines correct treatment • forms (protocol, agreement, application)• pay scale (statistical data, expert opinion)

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Role of the RDP 2007-2013 in minimising conflicts between large carnivores and farming

Measures under the RDP:• enables achieving the coexisting between human and

large carnivores• assuring FCS for grassland species and habitat types• are suitable tool for compensation of higher production

cost farming in large carnivores area• can significantly contribute to stop negative

demographic trends • in line with brown bear strategy such measures

contributes to sustainable development of landscape and conservation of large carnivores

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More information

http://www.mop.gov.si/en/areas_of_work/environment_directorate/

sektor_za_politiko_ohranjanja_narave/large_carnivores_in_slovenia/

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Thank you for your attention