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Role of the RDP 2007-2013 in minimising conflicts between large carnivores and
farming
Janez KastelicMinistrstvo za okolje in prostor
(Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia)[email protected]
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http://www.ours.ecologie.gouv.fr/html/_3_.php
Past and present distributionof the brown bear in Europe
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Spatial extension 1976 - 1995
Till 18th century abundant speciesAt the beginning of 20th cent. there were 30 – 40 bears in Slovenia (estimation1940 – about 80 bears (estimation)Present situation: 500 - 700 bears (monitoring)
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NATURA 2000 in Slovenia
SPA - 26 sites (22,8 %)pSCI - 260 sites (31,6 %)Total - 35, 5 %
9 % above 900 m70 % forests
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62.380 km2 – 12 %
DE – 0,7 %!FR – 0,4 %!
NATURA 2000 in Slovenia
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Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Management Strategy in Slovenia (2002)
The aims of the strategy are: * long-term conservation of the brown bear species in Slovenia, including its habitat * ensuring coexistence of humans and bears.
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Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Management Strategy in Slovenia (2002)
Brown bear Strategy
Habitats directiveRural development plan
2007-2013
Long-term conservation of the brown bear species in
Slovenia, including its habitat
Ensuring coexistence of humans and bears
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Conflicts in landscape
• direct attacks (very rare, 1-2 each year)
conflicts in agricultural areas• sheep and goats• beehives• orchards…
contacts with people• local people (in villages, forest works)• tourists (hikers, mushroom collectors, bikers)
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Management measures
Population management measuresRDP measuresPreventive measuresCompensation system Intervention groupPublic awareness
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Habitat directive
Population management measures– monitoring– population control (spatial, age, sex, condition) – strictly controlled encroachment– translocation (from urban areas to core areas)– feeding (controversial issue)
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CAP measures
Single farm payment
LFA payments
Agri-environment payments for grasslands
Animal husbandry in the central areas of appearance of large
carnivores
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Habitat directive objectives
Conservation of large carnivores• assure favorable conservation status
• maintain habitat
Grassland species and habitat types• maintain grasslands (mainly pastures)• stop natural succession (afforestation)
This is achievable with grazing (sheep, cow, horse,…).
This is achievable with close to nature and sustainable forest management
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Compensation system
Nature Conservation Act• provide the right to compensation• define that estimation of damage is made by SFS• MESP, EARS makes the final decision on whether the damage must be compensated or not
Wild Game and Hunting Act • define compensation procedure
Instructions of MESP• defines correct treatment • forms (protocol, agreement, application)• pay scale (statistical data, expert opinion)
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Role of the RDP 2007-2013 in minimising conflicts between large carnivores and farming
Measures under the RDP:• enables achieving the coexisting between human and
large carnivores• assuring FCS for grassland species and habitat types• are suitable tool for compensation of higher production
cost farming in large carnivores area• can significantly contribute to stop negative
demographic trends • in line with brown bear strategy such measures
contributes to sustainable development of landscape and conservation of large carnivores
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More information
http://www.mop.gov.si/en/areas_of_work/environment_directorate/
sektor_za_politiko_ohranjanja_narave/large_carnivores_in_slovenia/
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Thank you for your attention