TRANSBORDER BEAR CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR THE AREA OF WESTERN RODOPI MOUNTAIN RANGE

2008 - 2018 Region RODOPI –

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Contents

• Basic information • Analyzes • Threats and obstacles • Activities

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Development of Cross-border Cooperation as a Basis for Effective Conservation of the Population and Habitats in the Western Region” funded under the PHARE Programme. • “Silivryak” Club – Leading organization • Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society • Municipality of Smolian • Balkani Wildlife Society - associated partner • UNDP/GEF Rhodope Project - associated partner 22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

• The Cross-Border Conservation was developed by the following key experts: • Kostadin Valchev - expert, BALKANI Wildlife Society • Yorgos Mertzanis - expert, Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society • Thanos Tragos - expert, Callisto WNCS • Alexander Bardarov – Rhodope Project

With active participation of local municipalities and regional authorities, such as: Regional Environmental Inspection, Regonal Forest Agency, local communities (incl. Hunting Societies), etc.

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Geographic scope of the AP

Bulgaria, Smolian District Greece, the region of Eastern The municipalities of : Macedonia and Thrace • The Prefecture of •Smolian The municipalities of : •Devin • •Borino • •

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores • LEGAL BASIS FOR THE PLAN • Pan-European Brown Bear Conservation Action Plan. • National Plans for Brown Bear (in preparation for Bulgaria at that time) • Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (19.09.1979, Bern) - Bern Convention • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (03.03.1973, Washington) - CITES Convention • European Parliament Resolution, 17.02.1989 (A2-339/88, ABL C 69/201, 20.3.1989) • European Parliament Resolution, 22.04.1994 (A2-0154/94, ABL C 128/427, 09.05.1994) • Council Directive 92/43/EEC, Conservation of Natural and Wild Fauna and Flora (ABL L 206, 22.07.1992) 22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE BROWN BEAR

• Reproduction •Main Habitat features • Social organization and •Other related to bear dispersal management and damage • Feeding ecology prevention aspect Trophic spectrum of the brown bear in Rhodopi n=122 Ants 100% Chelonidae Mammals 90% Graminea 80% Poacea 70% Accorns 60% buds Beech nuts 50% Hazelnuts 40% Rosa sp. fruits 30% Berries 20% Cornus fruits Wild pears 10% Wild apples 0% Prunus fruits spring 1 spring 2 summer 1 summer 2 fall 1 fall 2 Cherries 22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores DISTRIBUTION

Distribution in Bulgaria Distribution in Greece 11,000 km2 13,500 km2

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores GIS MODELING

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Migrations and corridors

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Data related to bear presence and damages 1998-2007

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Areas with high risk of damages identified – conflict areas

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Areas with high risk of damages identified – conflict areas

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores ISSUES, THREATS AND OBSTACLES • human-caused mortality • bear – human conflict • public attitudes; threats to humans; damage to livestock, orchards and crops • lack of public support • habitat fragmentation, habitat loss and related issues • anthropogenetic food sources (garbage, supplementary feeding, etc.)

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN • GOAL: Trans-border conservation of a viable brown bears population as integral part of ecosystems and landscapes and in coexistence with people while minimizing the human- bear conflict.

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN

OBJECTIVES: 1.Maintain the functionality of linkage and core areas. 2.Reduce bear-human conflict and promote activities ensuring a positive public attitude towards brown bears. 3.Establish sound and scientifically based monitoring program on international and national level. 4.Control of bear human-caused mortality 22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Activities in relation to the objectives Maintain the functionality of linkage and core areas

Time Priori frame* ty* Activity Output Result Impact Responsibilities

Integrated mapping of human activities, Maps (GIS layers) of human Sound management of bear Stabilisation of the Bulgaria: vegetation communities, seasonal activities, vegetation in areas having the greatest brown bear NGOs, RIEW natural food sites and bear distribution communities, bear potential for immediate population MIA, RFB - cumulative factors analysis. distribution, analysis – data success Greece: base for decision making NGO, MBRPAs ST 2

Mapping of human activities to allow Maps (GIS layers) of Sound management of Stabilisation of the Bulgaria: delineation of potential fracture zones infrastructure and activities Brown bear’s habitats and brown bear NGOs, RIEW where human activities are or have that impact fragmentation. corridors population / MIA, RFB contributed to habitat and population Assessment of future habitat and Greece: fragmentation infrastructure population NGO, MBRPA fragmentation process in the LT 1 linkage area

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores Activities in relation to the objectives • Establishment of sound scientifically based monitoring program on international (Bulgaria- Greece) and national level. • Mitigation of the humans - bears conflict • Promotion of activities to enhance a positive public attitude towards brown bears • Control of human-caused mortality

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN

• OWNERSHIP OF THE PLAN • DURATION AND REVIEW OF THE PLAN • FUNDING SOURCES • SOURCES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

22 April 2015 Pravets Regional workshop of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores

Thank you for your attention!