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The contribution of the European LIFE program to mitigate damages caused by large carnivores in Europe

View ORCID ProfileTeresa Oliveira, Adrian Treves, José Vicente López-Bao, View ORCID ProfileMiha Krofel
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.25.449866
Teresa Oliveira
1Department of Forestry, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 83, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Adrian Treves
2Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 30A Science Hall, 550 North Park St., Madison, WI 53706, USA
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José Vicente López-Bao
3Research Unit of Biodiversity (CSIC/Oviedo University/Regional Government of Asturias), Oviedo University, E-33600 Mieres, Spain
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Miha Krofel
1Department of Forestry, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 83, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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  • For correspondence: miha.krofel@gmail.com
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Abstract

Governments around the world invest considerable resources to reduce damages caused by large carnivores on human property. To use these investments more efficiently and effectively, we need to understand which interventions successfully prevent such damages and which do not. In the European Union, the LIFE program represents by far the largest financial instrument to help EU Member States with the implementation of conservation activities, including mitigation of damages caused by large carnivores. However, we currently lack information about the effectiveness of this funding program in reducing carnivore damages. We reviewed 135 LIFE projects dealing with large carnivores between 1992 and 2019 to provide an overview of the use of damage prevention methods and evaluate their functional and perceived effectiveness. Methods evaluated ranged from non-lethal and lethal interventions, to information dissemination and compensation schemes. The largest number of the projects was focused on grey wolf (Canis lupus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Mediterranean countries and in Romania. Electric fences were reported as the most successful method for reducing damages by large carnivores, and most of the non-lethal methods used showed at least moderate effectiveness. However, standards of measuring and reporting effectiveness were in general relatively low, which limits our ability to measure actual impact. Therefore we urge project managers and evaluators to improve these standards, as well as the dissemination of the project results. We provide a list of recommendations for improving measuring and reporting success of implemented interventions for the benefit of future projects aimed to reduce damages caused by wildlife.

Article impact statement Electric fences were reported as the most effective method to prevent large-carnivore damages and are recommended for future use.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
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Posted June 25, 2021.
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The contribution of the European LIFE program to mitigate damages caused by large carnivores in Europe
Teresa Oliveira, Adrian Treves, José Vicente López-Bao, Miha Krofel
bioRxiv 2021.06.25.449866; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.25.449866
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The contribution of the European LIFE program to mitigate damages caused by large carnivores in Europe
Teresa Oliveira, Adrian Treves, José Vicente López-Bao, Miha Krofel
bioRxiv 2021.06.25.449866; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.25.449866

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