Encouraging and enabling people to live alongside bears and other wildlife in the Central Apennines of Italy is critical to the recovery of local nature. By fostering dialogue and collaborative solutions, bear-smart community committees will help to promote such coexistences across the landscape.
Corridors and coexistence
Today, the Rewilding Apennines team and local partners are working hard to protect and enhance the endangered population of Marsican brown bears living in the Central Apennine mountains in Italy. Through the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative, the team are developing a network of large-scale wildlife corridors, enabling bears – and a wide range of other wildlife species – to move safely between protected areas.
In and around these corridors – which are focused on the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, Sirente-Velino Regional Nature Park, and Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park – the team are establishing a network of 16 so-called “bear-smart communities”. A range of measures are employed within these communities – some of which have already been running for many years – to encourage and enable residents to live peacefully alongside bears and other animals. Such measures encompass everything from the installation of electric fences and distribution of bear-proof bins, to the restoration of abandoned orchards and support for the development of nature-based businesses.
Community committees
To build engagement with local stakeholders living in bear-smart communities, the Rewilding Apennines team are now in the process of establishing a number of committees. The first of these is active in the Genzana bear-smart community, situated in the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve in the town of Pettorano sul Gizo, with more set to be rolled out in the coming months.
“The overarching aim behind these committees is to further enhance human-wildlife coexistence through dialogue and practical solutions,” explains Rewilding Apennines Communications Manager Angela Tavone. “Committee members will meet regularly to discuss issues in the landscape connected with all wildlife species – not only bears. Everyone from local farmers and hunters to business owners and nature lovers can join.”
Diverse discussion topics
The Genzana bear-smart community committee has now met three times, with the current membership comprising people of all ages – mainly hunters, entrepreneurs, truffle pickers, and people connected with educational activities. While membership is currently quite small, more local residents are expected to join moving forwards. Representatives of the Rewilding Apennines team and local partner Salviamo l’Orso have led each meeting so far. Eventually one or more committee members from the community will assume this role.
“So far, we’ve discussed a whole range of topics,” says Angela Tavone. “Everything from fireworks during our Festival of Santa Margherita in July, which can disturb wildlife, to regulations for truffle picking and the establishment of a community truffle picking area.”
Shared decision-making
Alessio De Panfilis, a 26-year-old engineering student who was born in Pettorano sul Gizio, joined the Genzana bear-smart community committee as an informal representative of local truffle pickers. As a longstanding tradition, truffle picking is popular in the Central Apennines and across Italy, with many people hunting for these prized fungi as both a hobby and profession.
“I joined the committee in order to hear the views of other stakeholders on subjects related to human-wildlife coexistence,” says Alessio. “I think it’s essential to understand different people’s opinions, with the aim of making collective decisions and identifying ways forward that work for people and nature. It’s great that other young people besides me are joining the committee, as my generation needs to take care of our landscape.
“Finding solutions to guarantee the safety of wildlife is particularly important for me, especially in terms of animals coming into towns and crossing roads. The committee will draft a coexistence plan to be shared among stakeholders which will cover these issues.”
Collaborative solutions
Claudia de Panfilis, who is 27, was also born and grew up in Pettorano sul Gizio. Having lived in Paris for five years, she moved back to the town a year ago to be closer to her family and wild nature.
“I joined the committee because I want to be kept informed about Marsican bears and the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve,” she explains. “I grow vegetables to sell, and struggle with the presence of deer, bears, and wild boar, as they eat my produce before I can pick it. I believe the committee can give me the right advice in how to handle this situation. The committee is already doing a very good job involving residents and allowing them to express themselves on nature-related issues.”
Open to all
Like truffle picking, hunting is also a popular pastime in the Central Apennines. Pierluigi Berarducci is a 21-year-old hunter who has lived in Pettorano sul Gizio since birth.
“I decided to join the committee on behalf of hunters, and also because I like nature and am curious about rewilding,” he explains. “Through the committee, I’m hoping to see better management in the landscape. For example, ensuring hunting is carried out in line with regulations, better waste disposal, and maintenance of mountain roads and huts. Measures that are identified and decided on together can bring benefits to all.”
Invaluable support
The LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative is partially funded by the EU’s LIFE programme.
Rewilding Europe’s work in our rewilding landscapes is supported by a wide range of highly valued partners. We would particularly like to acknowledge those providing core funding – notably the Ecological Restoration Fund, the Dutch Postcode Lottery, WWF-Netherlands, and Arcadia. Their longstanding support plays a critical role in enabling us to deliver and scale up rewilding impact.