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
The Abruzzo Region has allocated around €10 million to the five regional parks and eleven municipalities as part of the 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This long-awaited measure is now more necessary than ever to reduce wildlife mortality, mitigate human–wildlife conflict, and support the restoration of Abruzzo’s ecosystems.
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.
Salviamo l’Orso and Rewilding Apennines urgently call on the relevant authorities and municipalities to secure the hazardous situations identified and described in the reports sent to them in recent days.
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.
“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
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.
In Pettorano sul Gizio, the Bear Smart Community Genzana will be able to boast of having a unique, original place that is able to connect natural and human history in a permanent exhibition that will surprise everyone!
Everything is ready in Gioia dei Marsi for the three days dedicated to the protection of biodiversity, the restoration of ecosystems, the socio-economic benefits of living in healthy nature and the practices of human-wildlife coexistence.
