A productive three days of meetings and visits took place over the past few days in the town of Kalabaka in Thessaly.

The appearance of small groups of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) in various areas of the Italian territory has attracted the attention of the scientific community. The return of this species after more than five hundred years of absence and its ability to change the landscape highlights the potential for coexistence with a wild animal species relatively unknown in Italy.

Italian and Greek partners in the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative recently visited Canada to learn about Bear Smart Communities in British Columbia. The insights acquired and collaborative ethos developed will enhance rewilding efforts.

Coordinated by Rewilding Europe, 12 partners from Italy and Greece are kicking off a new EU-funded programme that will support living harmoniously with bears in Europe. The LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative will support the development of a network of communities in coexistence corridors.

Working to promote coexistence between Marsican brown bears and humans in five essential wildlife corridors, the Central Apennines rewilding team had a productive 2019. The team were encouraged in their efforts by a range of positive results and the record-breaking number of bear cubs born last year.