A delegation from the esteemed U.S. organization “People & Carnivores” is visiting the Central Apennines. Since 1992, this organization has worked to promote coexistence between rural communities in North America and large carnivores such as black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, and mountain lions. The purpose of this visit is to engage in constructive dialogue with the international organization to evaluate and exchange best practices, with the aim of improving human-bear coexistence strategies in the Central Apennines.

In 2026, Italy’s Central Apennines will become the focal point of international bear conservation, focusing on the Marsican brown bear and coexistence between people and wildlife. From September 20 to 25, Pescasseroli will host two significant gatherings: the International Conference of the IBA – International Association for Bear Research and Management – and the final conference of the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative.

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

At the end of the school year, an exciting event was held to recognize children and teenagers who participated in the educational program and the contest of LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors in Central Apennines. They demonstrated significant knowledge and awareness about human-bear coexistence.

In recent months, through a participatory approach, some Committees for the Bear-Smart Communities within the ecological corridors of the Central Apennines have become operational. This is an important step towards planning concrete, long-term actions for coexistence between humans and bears.

In the Bear-Smart Communities of the Central Apennines, an educational initiative has begun to raise awareness among children and teenagers about human-bear coexistence.

“You cannot bluff if there is a theatrical civilization, and theater is a great civil force; theater removes the cowardice of living, it takes away the fear of the different, the other, the unknown, of life, of death.“ Leo De Berardinis, actor and theater director     Theater is a powerful tool for communication, as … Continued

During the monitoring visit of LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors – a formal moment to verify that what has been done so far by the partners is consistent with the plans and rules of the European Commission – the role of bear-smart communities for human-bear coexistence in the central Apennines was strongly emphasized through testimonies, field visits, and official moments.

Since late May, the Italian partners of LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors have been implementing a new initiative to engage local communities, to support the development of Bear-Smart Communities in the Central Apennines.

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