Large carnivores in EU view from Balkans and eastern Europe

1. ÖsterMalma April 11, 2014 Srečko Žerjav - HuntersAssociationofSlovenia Large carnivores in EUview from Balkans and eastern Europe

2. Present in all countries! • Members states: PROTECTED • Strategy • Action plan • Yearly management plan • Non Member states: GAME SPECIES Increasingpopulations !!!!!!! Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 LC populationsToday !

3. Different public opinion about their presence • Very important role of hunting organizations in protection of LC in the past and still today • Problems of damages by LC (and attacks on humans caused by LC) • Responsibility for compensation • Delay of compensations Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 LC populationsToday

4. Quality of data on their populations are very different • From „No data“ • To „Very well known national populations“ • Very different methods and practices for monitoring of the populations Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 LC populationsToday

5. Main threats for the conservation of LC • Fragmentation and degradation of the habitat • Inefficient system of damage compensation • Lack of quality information • Huge expectations from the hunters organization about the role of FACE on the international level • Decision making process • Legislative process • Field of public opinion Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 LC populationsToday

6. „Love“ for large carnivores increases proportionally with the distance from their viable populations ! Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 Do weagree ???

7. Legislation on LC was adopted by countries without LC for all countries! Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 Do weagree???

8. Cooperation between all hunters organizations - even with the countries without LC • Cooperation between hunters organizations, other NGO΄s and governmental bodies on a local, national and international level Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 Expectations and Proposals

9. Intensify work of hunters organizations with different interest groups • Raise public awareness about the importance of large carnivores for biodiversity • Importance of active management • Secure more information on LC populations level • Research and scientific studies • Good data information system • Exchange of information between neighboring countries Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 ExpectationsandProposals

10.  Social carrying capacity • Secure the coexistence of large carnivores and humans with reasonable legislation and active management •  One management strategy for cross border populations •  Active role of FACE on: • EU level • National HA • Knowledge • Actions • Support • Public opinion Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 ExpectationsandProposals

11. Countrieswithstabile LC populationsshouldbegivenappropriateweight at preparationofrulesandregulationthatshall: • Ensureviabilityofall LC populations • Predictcrossborder management • Respectthe social carryingcapacity Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 ExpectationsandProposals

12. All countries with regular hunt on LC have stabile (growing) populations!!! • Social carrying capacity is much lower than environmental!!! • Define and execute one monitoring model per population! • Same trans-border management strategy per population! Hunt gives value to animals/species! Öster Malma, April 11 , 2014 Raw FACTS !

13. ÖsterMalma, April 11, 2014 Largecarnivores in EU Thank you for your attantion! Srečko Žerjav srecko.zerjav@lovska-zveza.si