1. Habitats Committee, 29 April, 2014
Why did we launch the new initiative on Large Carnivores?
Return of the Large Carnivores (progress in achieving Favourable Conservation Status, with some exceptions), low social acceptance (within certain rural areas/categories), political sensitivities.
Agenda Point 5:
Large Carnivores
András Demeter
Habitats Committee, 29 April, 2014

2. EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores (1)
Why did we launch the new initiative on Large Carnivores?
Return of the Large Carnivores (progress in achieving Favourable Conservation Status, with some exceptions), low social acceptance (within certain rural areas/categories), political sensitivities.
EU Platform on Coexistence between
People and Large Carnivores (1)
After 2 years of preparation, to be launched on 10/06/2014 under Commissioner Janez Potočnik's patronage
Aim: to provide a structure for constructive dialogue to find solutions to human – large carnivore conflicts (4 LC species)
Entry ticket: Signing an agreement stating the key principles of engagement
Mission: to assemble knowledge and good practices, to exchange experiences among different stakeholders with a view to finding commonly agreed solutions to LC conflicts
Facilitate voluntary partnerships for possible joint projects on key actions at the population level

3. EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores (2)
Why did we launch the new initiative on Large Carnivores?
Return of the Large Carnivores (progress in achieving Favourable Conservation Status, with some exceptions), low social acceptance (within certain rural areas/categories), political sensitivities.
EU Platform on Coexistence between
People and Large Carnivores (2)
Membership: a limited number of key European umbrella organizations of stakeholders have been invited to establish the Platform. Future expansion: with the agreement of the members
The Commission will provide logistical support for the work of the Platform for the initial 2 years
Member States are invited to follow the work of the Platform and to assist in whatever way they can, or find it appropriate

4. Kaczensky et al. (2013)

5. Agenda for key actions on Large Carnivores
Why did we launch the new initiative on Large Carnivores?
Return of the Large Carnivores (progress in achieving Favourable Conservation Status, with some exceptions), low social acceptance (within certain rural areas/categories), political sensitivities.
Agenda for key actions on Large Carnivores
"Classic" species action plans from the Bern Convention 15 & 15+ years ago. Outdated by now.
Now an attempt to introduce the population-level focus, prepared by a team of LC experts
Since 30 of 32 LC populations tranboundary, need for cross-border cooperation
A voluntary agenda for the most urgent key actions which may be taken up by any stakeholder with an interest and financial capacity: national and local authorities, PA managers, farmers and lifestock producers and their associations, conservation NGOs, hunters and game managers
Possible ideas to plan projects for submission to EU and other funding sources
Early drafts already consulted with a wide range of stakeholders (workshop in Brussels on 05/12/2013) .

6. Agenda for key actions on Large Carnivores
Hierarchical approach:
A set of 11 key actions in common for all 4 species
Set of 6-8 key action for each species in common across all its populations
Sets of 3-4 specific actions for each population
Note 1 : proposed actions are not rank-ordered
Note 2 : the population-level approach prevails, some local MS needs of a small share of a LC population may not be reflected in the most urgent action at the level of the whole population.

7. Agenda for key actions on Large Carnivores
MS are kindly invited to make comments to improve the draft recommendations of key actions.
A general exchange views is welcome now, but please send specific comments in writing.