As part of the LECA project, the Slovenia Forest Service organised a workshop on database management in February in Bled. This event served as a forum for discussing how digital technologies can be more effectively leveraged to support the conservation of large carnivores, broader biodiversity, and forest ecosystems.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders—including wildlife managers, policy makers, researchers, and NGO representatives—from Slovenia and other Alpine and Carpathian countries. Their shared goal: to address the growing need for digitisation and integration of data in nature conservation and forest management.
The event focused on the development and use of databases to support the monitoring of large carnivores and biodiversity. Projects such as Slovenia’s mBase and the Nature Conservation Information System (NarcIS) were highlighted as key examples, alongside digitisation efforts in forestry under the eGozdarstvo initiative. Our wildlife tracking app, CarniTrack, developed within the LECA project, was also introduced.
Participants emphasised the importance of long-term planning, continuous system development, and close collaboration with end users to ensure the success of digital conservation tools. The workshop gathered leading Slovenian institutions and international partners from the Alpine and Carpathian regions, strengthening cross-border cooperation in nature protection.
Ultimately, the workshop underscored that while digital tools are transforming how conservation is practiced, their impact depends on collaboration, adaptability, and long-term investment. As biodiversity faces growing pressures, integrating technology into conservation strategies is not just innovative—it is essential.