Duration: : 01 January 2024 – 30 June 2026

Lead Partner: WWF-Bulgaria

Funding: The Interreg Danube Region Programme (DRP) – 80%

Donor Project webpage: ForestConnect

Project description:

The functionality of the ecological corridors of large carnivores in the target area is endangered by unsustainable management practices and infrastructure developments in forest habitats and their surroundings, which harms their structure. Climate change poses additional pressure on the ecosystems. Climate-induced habitat fragmentation can impede large carnivores range shifts and displace individuals from mountainous areas towards more populated settlements with a risk to increase human-wildlife conflict and reduce the non-timber forest products may affect the diet to a more carnivorous one, additionally increasing the conflicts with cattle farmers. Although climate change effects are recognised by management authorities, this is not translated into resilience-enhancing forest management practices and clear guidance for managers of the territories.

Due to the prevalence of large carnivores cross-border distribution and the complex effects of climate change, a multinational conservation planning accompanied by a holistic governance framework for biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction is required. ForestConnect aims to address common challenges and needs on protecting and preserving ecological corridors of large carnivores in the target area of the project – the Carpathians, Balkans and Dinarides.

 

The project involves 15 Project Partners (PPs) and 8 Assosiated Strategic Partners (ASP) from 7 countries – Austria, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine.  Full list of partners is available on the project website.

The project covers 9 pilot territories and includes 23 intervention sites:

• Zapadna Stara Planina Natura 2000 (Bulgaria)
• Stara Planina Nature Park (Serbia)
• Apuseni Nature Park (Romania)
• Strambu Baiut Natura 2000 (Romania)
• Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine)
• Slovenský Raj National Park (Slovakia)
• Biogradska Gora, Durmitor, and Prokletije National Parks (Montenegro)

Specific objectives of the project:

1.New tools and technologies integrated in transnational monitoring of large carnivores’ forests

• Joint and harmonised development of transnational tools and technologies for monitoring of key large carnivore forest habitats and identification of species movement patterns in response to climate change

2.Heterogeneity, connectivity and climate resilience of large carnivores’ forests is improved

• Common solutions in line with the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and based on joint pilot actions to improve heterogeneity, increase resilience and connectivity of forest habitats in the transboundary ecological regions used by large carnivores

3.Transnational network of nature management professionals uptake and disseminate solutions. 

 

Read and Share the Strategic Action Plan:

A central outcome of the ForestConnect project is the Strategic Action Plan on Adaptation Actions and Climate Resilience-Enhancing Forest Management Practices for Protected Areas (SAP). The SAP provides concrete, transnational guidance for improving ecological corridors and habitats for the migration of large carnivores across the Carpathian, Dinaric, and Balkan Mountains.

The publication provides practical guidance for strengthening ecological corridors and habitats for large carnivores across the Carpathian, Dinaric, and Balkan mountain regions. It addresses increasing pressures caused by climate change, habitat fragmentation, infrastructure development, and growing human-wildlife interactions.

The Strategic Action Plan presents 17 concrete actions structured under four thematic areas:

• Infrastructure and Ecological Connectivity
• Habitat Protection and Management
• Management Aspects for Climate Resilience
• Human-Wildlife Coexistence

More details about the Strategic Action Plan are available on a dedicated SAP webpost. 

The Secretariat kindly invites the stakeholders to disseminate the SAP as widely as possible within the respective networks, institutions, and professional communities, in order to maximize outreach and support its uptake across the region.

 

Implemented project activities (ongoing): 

• ForestConnect Expert meeting involving protected aria managers 
• Connecting Nature Regional Conference — ForestConnect Final Event

Additional background documents and information:

• Webpage ForestConnect
• Results of the ForestConnect
• Carpathian Countries Integrated Biodiversity Information System
  (CCIBIS)
• ForestConnect newsletter  
• ForestConnect events