A new study has confirmed that Marsican brown bears play a valuable role promoting the Central Apennines as nature-based tourism destination.

In the coexistence corridor between the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve and the Maiella National Park, Rewilding Apennines and the entrepreneur Eugenio Vitto Massei have embarked on a new collaboration aimed at connecting people to nature and involving them in rewilding actions in the central Apennines.

Within the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative, some partners had the idea to spread the coexistence best practices with the bear through the promotion of high-quality food products from the Central Apennines, all encased within the Bear-Smart Box.

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.

When nature inspires our lives, stories of coexistence, both physical and mental, can born.

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.