An international conference on large carnivore management was held in Slovenia on 6–8 March 2024, bringing together experts, policymakers and stakeholders from the Alpine and Carpathian regions. Organised by the Slovenia Forest Service within the LECA project, and co-hosted by the Alpine Convention and the Carpathian Convention, the event received support from the Slovenian Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.
The conference provided a unique platform to strengthen cooperation between the two regions and exchange experiences on the conservation and management of wolves, brown bears and Eurasian lynx. Participants discussed differences and similarities in population status, monitoring approaches, habitat characteristics and human–wildlife interactions across the Alps and Carpathians.
Although large carnivore conservation is guided by the same European Union legal framework, management approaches and policy practices vary between countries and regions. The conference therefore focused on sharing knowledge, comparing management strategies and identifying opportunities for closer cooperation at regional, national and European levels.
Key takeaways: The conference highlighted that effective large carnivore conservation requires coordinated approaches, harmonised monitoring methods and strong cooperation across borders. Exchange of experiences between the Alpine and Carpathian regions can contribute to better-informed decision-making, improved conflict management and more effective long-term conservation of large carnivore populations across Europe.