Protected Areas for Nature and People (PA4NP) Bear-Watching in NP Tara (Serbia) and NP Biogradska Gora (Montenegro)

Protected Areas for Nature and People (PA4NP) Bear-watching in NP Tara (Serbia) and NP Biogradska gora (Montenegro)

Jelena Marojević, Parks DInarides

Vesna Maksimovic, WWF Adria

November 2018

US /US James Morgan

Protected areas improve engagement with local constituents Active civil society safeguards natural capital

Protected as a base for CSOs have areas show sustainable increased tangible engagement economic and development with decision- social benefits to local makers on PA policies communities Basic structure

Local Parks Protected Policy communitie CSOs Dinarides Areas makers s (DAP)

Capacity, Field promotion, Advocacy projects and awareness Field project approaches…

Biogradska Gora NP in Montenegro & Tara NP in Serbia Project partners and their role

• PE „Tara National Park“ (Serbia) and NP Biogradska gora (Montenegro) – brown bear monitoring (GPS collars and DNA material), and creation of sustainable wildlife watching offer

• Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade, Natural History Museum, Veterinary ambulance Spina – brown bear catching and monitoring, assisting park staff in setting camera traps, trainings for park rangers, hunters and mountaineers

• Local community members (local tourism organisations, tour agencies, service providers – food, accomodation, souvenir making) – offering supportive services in the wildlife tourism package

• In Montenegro - MoU - Local hunting associations –Kolasin and Mojkovac, National Parks of Montenegro, Local Tourist Organizations - Kolasin and Mojkovac, Parks Dinarides and WWF Adria Project aim, activities and outcomes I

• Increased public support to PAs and awarness about social and economic benefits for local communities • Established monitoring system for brown bear in NP Tara – 6 bears fitted with GPS collars, 200 DNA samples collected, manual prepared/ and NP Biogradska gora - 1 bear fitted with GPS collar • Action plan for Large Carnivors management in Serbia and Montenegro developed based on stakeholder participation

Project aim, activities and outcomes II

•Development of a sustainable Bear watching tourism package including offers from the local community

•Brown Bear educational corner

•Local communities are directly involved in development, promotion and sales of the bear-friendly products and services

Project impact

The project assist governmental agencies responsible for LC management by providing means and knowledge for establishing effective monitoring system for brown bears, as well as raised awareness and active participation of representatives from local communities.

Aware and educated local community will help to mitigate risks connected to bear-human co-existence.

The project gathered regional brown bear experts, relevant authorities and local stakeholders to provide management model for relevant institutions.

In both countries, WWF and Park Dinarides are involved in process of preparation of bear management plans (socioeconomic analysis – questionnaires )

Socio-economic impact By development of bear-watching products and services, the project helped to improve economic opportunities for local population and sense of ownership over the both conservation and valorization process. Hvala! Thank you!