Over 150 people attended the closing event in Pescasseroli of a project that, over the past five years, brought together protected areas, municipalities, associations, businesses, institutions and local communities — both in the Central Apennines and in northern Greece — to lay solid foundations for a future in which humans and bears can coexist peacefully in the long term.

For the first time in Italy, the project has trialled the Bear-Smart Communities model. The results achieved now form the basis for a long-term programme. The meeting coincides with the opening day of the 29th Conference of the International Association for Bear Research & Management

An event to celebrate together the commitment of communities, associations, and local authorities in promoting long-term coexistence between humans and bears

Recently, a local news website relating to the Gran Sasso area published a letter from one of its readers without first verifying the veracity of the content and, then, selecting the correct information. Since this letter concerns the presence of specimens of the Marsican brown bear in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, many have questioned whether it could undermine the delicate process of peaceful coexistence between the local communities and the bear in the newly expanding territories of the species, which is also carrying out through the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative.