WWF Slovakia and WWF Hungary organised a Stakeholder Platform Meeting focused on the future of large carnivores, with a particular emphasis on Eurasian lynx, in the cross-border pilot area Slovak Karst – North Hungarian Mountains. The meeting brought together conservation experts and representatives from key protected areas, including Slovak Karst National Park, Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area, Bükk National Park and Aggtelek National Park.
Participants discussed the latest results of lynx monitoring in the region, the current status of large carnivore populations, and the main challenges affecting their long-term conservation. The discussions also focused on the effectiveness of preventive measures aimed at reducing human–wildlife conflicts, as well as approaches to improving the prevention and investigation of poaching incidents.
Key takeaways: The meeting highlighted the importance of continued cross-border cooperation, harmonised monitoring approaches and knowledge exchange among protected areas to ensure effective large carnivore conservation. Strengthening preventive measures and cooperation between conservation authorities, local stakeholders and law enforcement was identified as essential for supporting coexistence between people and large carnivores in the region.