Education as the key pillar of conflict prevention and nature conservation

In cooperation with the Association of Students of Natural Sciences and the LIFE WILD WOLF project, we organised a 5-day training camp for students in Slovenia, in the area of Hrušice and Otlica.

Stakehoders gathering across boarders in the Tatra mountains

On September 30, over 50 participants gathered at the REWITA center in Kościelisko, including representatives from nature protection agencies, forestry, hunting associations, local authorities, academia, law enforcement, national parks, as well as nature enthusiasts, to discuss our project activities, share experiences, and engage in stakeholder platforms.

Visiting farmers in the Slovak Karst: How to coexist with large carnivores

On September 17-18, experts from science, education, consultation, and farming came together in Betliar, the small town in the heart of the Slovak Karst. This seminar focused on strategies for coexisting with wolves, lynxes, and bears, featuring successful case studies from Slovak farms and beyond.

Effective nature protection must integrate the voices of local communities

On September 6, 2024, the Tourist Information and Education Center of the Bieszczady National Park (Lutowiska) buzzed with energy as experts gathered for a pivotal meeting. The session focused on the delicate coexistence between local communities in the Polish Eastern Carpathians and their large predator neighbors: wolves, lynxes, and bears.

Discussion about lynx monitoring with young students at summer camp

Summer vacations don't stop us from being active in the LECA project! This time we've engaged with young researchers in Slovakia.

Electric fence and kuvasz dogs protecting herds at Crow well

Yet another herd is safer in Hungary thanks to the LECA project! WWF Hungary together with volunteers helped to construct an electric fence system in the outskirts of Dövény, Hungary.

Bulding strong transnational connections

In the LECA project, we’re all about building strong connections to make a real impact on biodiversity conservation. On 17-18 June 2024 we've been actively networking and we've presented our project activities at the 15th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Biodiversity (Vienna, Austria).

Annual meeting in Zakopane – Updates, planning, bears and enthusiasm

The LECA project partners met at the annual meeting in Zakopane (Poland), 13-15 May 2024. We used the potential of our in-person meeting at 100%! We not only admired the beautiful nature but also discussed the project status as well as collected samples in the field.

Second round of lively discussions, sharing experiences and inspiration, this time in the Slovakia-Hungary cross-border area

The LECA project partners WWF Hungary and WWF Slovakia successfully organised the pilot kick-off and stakeholder meeting in Parádfürdő, Hungary, on 18-19 April 2024. Lively discussions, interesting presentations as well as a farm visit - we experienced all this!

Hunters, livestock breeders, foresters and conservationists leading dialogue about wolves

The cross-border area of Beskydy and Kysuce mountains is one of the four regions where we pilot our activities. On 26 March 2024 we invited representatives of hunters, foresters, farmers, livestock breeders, and nature conservationists to a gathering where we introduced the project activities, shared experiences and established further ...

Wildlife Snapshot: Successful lynx photo shoot & Bear-proof containers installed

Activities in Polish part of the Bieszczady Mountains are on a roll! We have captured the elusive lynx on camera traps installed in the area. And that's not all! We've also bolstered bear-proof containers to curb conflicts between bears and humans, ensuring garbage doesn't become a temptation.

Precious racka sheep are safe behind electric fences

Our colleagues have installed the first set of electric fences in Szentdomonkos, Hungary at the Slovakian Karst – North Hungarian Mountains. This is an important step to familiarise the livestock keepers with the best practices in prevention measures to halt large carnivore related damages, and promote successful coexistence.

Cooperation is key – First joint conference of the Alpine and the Carpathian Conventions on large carnivores management

A transboundary character of wildlife populations, such as large carnivores, require enhanced international collaboration for successful conservation and management solutions. As large carnivore populations are recovering in Europe, this is even more important to prevent and solve the challenges that arise.

The first wolves have telemetry collars

The project activities are in full swing. We're engaging with stakeholders, setting up camera traps, and the first wolves are already equipped with telemetry collars. Our colleagues in Slovenia were the first to deploy one of them.

Cross-border monitoring of large carnivores in the Beskydy-Kysuce pilot area

On 17-18 February 2024, LECA experts together with volunteers will monitor large carnivores in the Beskydy-Kysuce pilot area

Let’s identify the most pressing problems