wolf crossing a river in wild
Tomáš Hulík Vlk Dravý

LECA

Project overview

Supporting the coexistence and conservation of Carpathian LargE CArnivores

The Carpathians are home to large populations of lynx, wolves and bears. In recent years, conflicts between large carnivores and humans have increased, but no one knows if this is due to growing populations because data are not collected in a harmonised way across borders. The LECA project introduces a consistent and efficient monitoring approach, which involves local stakeholders. It will result in up-to-date population information, coupled with effective conflict prevention measures.

2,93m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

6

Countries

11

Regions

12

Partners

4

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

56%

Project partnership

Project partners

Česko (CZ)

Lead partner

Mendel University in Brno

Department of Forest Ecology
Address
Zemědělská 1
613 00 Brno
Country
Czechia (CZ)
Web
www.mendelu.cz

Project partner

Address
Usypiskowa 11
02-386 Warszawa
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.wwf.pl
Total partner budget
176,908 €
Address
Medená 101/5
811 02 Bratislava
Country
Slovakia (SK)
Web
https://slovakia.panda.org/
Total partner budget
288,581 €
Address
Álmos vezér útja 69/A
1141 Budapest
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
https://wwf.hu/
Total partner budget
278,499 €
Faculty of Forestry/Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management
Address
T. G. Masaryka 24
960 01 Zvolen
Country
Slovakia (SK)
Web
https://www.tuzvo.sk/en
Total partner budget
317,406 €
Természetmegőrzési Osztály (Nature Conservation Department)
Address
Sánc 6.
3411 Eger
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
www.bnpi.hu
Total partner budget
103,335 €
Address
Kuźnice 1
34-500 Zakopane
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.tpn.pl
Total partner budget
256,576 €
Address
Tajovského 28 B
974 01 Banská Bystrica
Country
Slovakia (SK)
Web
www.sopsr.sk
Total partner budget
339,951 €
Address
Dolní náměstí 38
77900 Olomouc
Country
Czechia (CZ)
Web
www.selmy.cz
Total partner budget
220,346 €
Department of Species Protection and Implementation of International Commitments
Address
Vršovická 1442/65
100 10 Prague 10
Country
Czechia (CZ)
Web
https://www.mzp.cz/
Total partner budget
294,606 €
Address
Mihai Viteazul 44/63/E/10
500187 Brasov
Country
Romania (RO)
Web
www.zarand.org
Total partner budget
109,612 €
Address
Večna pot 2
1001 Ljubljana
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
http://www.zgs.si/
Total partner budget
189,078 €

Roadmap

1

Setting the scene

2

Exchange and pre-validation of knowledge

joint conference of the Alpine and the Carpathian Conventions in Slovenia

Expert consultations include (1) series of consultations on the LC analyses (monitoring, poaching, conflict prevention) with Carpathian Convention Working Group Biodiversity and with Alpine Convention; (2) draft guidances on monitoring, poaching investigation, conflict prevention to be validated in pilot areas.

3

Joint preparation of pilot actions

Detailed Pilot Action plans one for each area are prepared and peer-reviewed by partners, building on the results of previous activities.

4

Establishment of stakeholder platforms

In order to foster communication between the Pilots and local communities we establish cross-border stakeholder platforms in each Pilot Area that will hold regular consultations.

5

Widening the reachout

Increasing awareness and engagement includes (1) stakeholder engagement using new IT solutions; (2) awareness raising events of LCs based on project outputs and results for the national public.

6

Implementation of Pilot Actions

Hungary electric fence installation in pilot area

Reports on the results of Pilot Actions implemented on the monitoring, conflict prevention and poaching in pilot areas: Bear in the Tatra Mountains (SK, PL), lynx in the East Carpathians (PL, SK), lynx in the Slovak Karst (SK, HU), wolf in the Western Carpathians (CZ, SK).

7

Assessments in reference areas and Synthesis of the results

Synthesis of the results of the pilot actions and formulation of strategies includes (1) reports on Reference Areas (SL, RO); (2) joint synthesis of pilot results from pilot areas to feed back into guidelines; (3) local info days at events in Pilot Areas to present pilot action result.

8

Elaboration of strategies

Elaboration of peer reviewed strategies includes the following activities such as (1) peer reviewed draft local strategies created through workshop; (2) finalised Pilot area level strategies based on ground-proven guidelines on large carnivore conservation in monitoring, poaching investigation and conflict prevention; (3) memorandum of understanding.

9

Exchange and final validation of pilot results

Final validation of results includes (1) concluding consultations on the validated LC guidances on monitoring, poaching investigation, conflict prevention with the Carpathian Convention and with the Alpine Convention; (2) joint thematic meeting to agree on three finalised guidelines.

10

Channeling project knowledge to education

Educational activities include (1) the development of training programs in large carnivore conflict prevention for hunters in order to make their encounters with LCs conflict-free; (2) creation of university teaching material in order to spread knowledge about the main project findings.

11

Bringing project results to national policy levels

Bringing project results to national policy levels includes (1) a series of national roundtable discussions to engage policymakers into formulation of recommendations; (2) national recommendations on LC conservation; (3) national endorsement of national recommendations.

12

Transnational recommendations and updates

Trans-border activities include (1) revision of the Carpathian Convention Action Plan on LCs; (2) European level recommendations to Agricultural and Fisheries Council on cross-border, transnational and European harmonisation of monitoring, poaching investigation and conflict prevention of LCs based on validated guidances; (3) webinars on LCs organised at the transnational level.

News

Events

Pilot actions

Outputs

Monitoring Thematic Guidance on Large Carnivore conservation in the Carpathians

Thematic Guidance aimed at introducing effective, harmonized practices on monitoring of LC in cross- border areas to yield a sustained flow of reliable data on LC populations in the Carpathians and a foundation of evidence-based policy making. The draft Thematic Guidance will be validated and revised through Pilot Actions and consulted with the relevant bodies of the Carpathian Convention and Alpine Convention for policy uptake , roll-out and upscale towards regional and EU level.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

Poaching investigation Thematic Guidance on Large Carnivore conservation in the Carpathians

Thematic Guidance aimed at introducing scientifically well-founded, efficient and coordinated poaching investigation practices and tools, to be the basis for similar or identical anti-poaching regulations and procedures across the borders of the Carpathian countries. The draft Guidance will be validated and revised via Pilot Actions and consulted with relevant bodies of the Carpathian Convention and Alpine Convention for policy uptake , roll-out and upscale towards regional and EU level.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

Conflict prevention Thematic Guidance on Large Carnivore conservation in the Carpathians

Thematic Guidance aimed at introducing a set of measures following a symmetrical (human - LC) approach, to effectively protect both LCs, humans and their property and livestock from conflicts and damage in a resource-efficient way, offering adoptable and feasible limitations to all. Draft Guidance will be validated and revised via pilots and consulted with relevant bodies of the Carpathian Convention and Alpine Convention for policy uptake, roll-out and upscale to regional and EU level.
Type of output: Solutions
In development

Recommendations for the implementation of the Carpathian Convention Action Plan on large carnivores

Complementary document to the Carpathian Convention “Action Plan on conservation of LCs and ensuring ecological connectivity in the Carpathians” incorporating innovative protocols defined by the Thematic Guidances validated and consulted with Carpathian Convention Biodiversity working group leading towards policy uptake , roll-out and upscale at Carpathian level.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

Uptake of Strategies on Large Carnivore conservation (incl. monitoring, poaching, conflict prevention) tailored to the 4 cross-border pilot areas

Pilot area specific, strategic documents transnationally validated via peer- reviews for each of the 4 pilot cross-border areas uptaken by stakeholders laying down the standard methodology, practices, equipment needs and approaches to provide a basis for recurring and ongoing assessment of large carnivore conservation issues (esp. monitoring, poaching, human-wildlife conflicts) elaborated through the engagement of local stakeholder platforms.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

Uptake of National Recommendations on large carnivore conservation and management (monitoring, poaching, conflict prevention) tailored to the core pilot countries (CZ, HU, PL, SK)

Uptake process started within 3 months from project ending of national recommendations deriving from the transnationally validated LECA pilot actions aiming at incorporating LECA Guidelines and aligning measures set by pilot area strategies with the respective national policy frameworks. Recommendations will be considered by national policymakers relevant for large carnivore conservation issues (esp. monitoring, poachin
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

IT Solution for stakeholder involvement

Updated web-based and mobile application for recording monitoring effort (tracking, camera trapping) that can be used for data collection in pilot areas and data export for already existing databases. IT application with a large carnivores’ distribution GIS layer for Carpathian pilot and reference areas to be included into the CCIBIS (Carpathian Integrated Biodiversity Information System) and LCIE (IUCN Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe expert group) distribution mapping.
Type of output: Solutions

LECA

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Project Contacts

Project Manager

Martin Duľa
Phone: +420770137635

Finance Manager

Petra Doleželová
Phone: +420777812052

Communication Manager

Lenka Kissová
Phone: +420735075304