European Rewilding Network
ERN1608
Large carnivores monitoring
Conservation in the Czech Republic
Eurasian lynx cub
iStock
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
Wolf running across hillside
Luca Melcarne
The project supports the natural recovery of wolves, lynx, and bears in the Czech Republic. Their comeback is threatened by illegal killing, habitat fragmentation, and negative public perception. These threats are addressed through interconnected activities: monitoring, protecting migration corridors, public education, collaboration with foresters and hunters, publishing studies, and scientific research, including telemetry.
Project:
Large carnivores monitoring
Region:
Beskydy Mountains, Ore Mountains, Lusatian Mountains, Bohemian Forest, Bohemian Forest Foothills, Rychleby Mountains, Kokořínsko, Brdy, Novohradské Mountains, Broumov Region, Javorníky Mountains
Type of protection:
Protected Landscape Areas
Habitat types:
Mixed and coniferous forests, mountain meadows
Keystone species:
Grey wolf, Eurasian lynx, Brown bear
Aim and vision:
The main aim is to improve the conservation status of large carnivores in the Czech Republic to support peaceful coexistence with people.
It includes better monitoring, limiting both legal and illegal hunting, protecting wildlife corridors, and improving public awareness and knowledge.
Uniqueness of the project:
The project operates in a highly human-used landscape with varying densities of large carnivores and human activity. This makes long-term monitoring, public education, and multi-stakeholder cooperation essential.
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Research
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
A network of connected habitats where large carnivores can live and move freely, with strong public support and minimal conflict.
Results so far:
Long-term monitoring system for wolves and lynx established, Hundreds of trained volunteers involved every year, Broad cooperation with foresters, hunters, and scientists, Improved public understanding of the ecological role of large carnivores.
Inspirational value:
Large carnivores are powerful symbols of wild nature. Their presence inspires public interest, deeper respect for nature, commitment to conservation and broader environmental awareness.
Experience you would like to share:
Practical knowledge from long-term monitoring of large carnivores, field tracking techniques and volunteer engagement, effective public outreach and education.
Experience you would like to gain:
Improved cooperation with specific stakeholder groups, especially hunters and foresters, strategies for ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of conservation projects.
Country
Czech Republic
Start year
2003
Size (ha)
250000
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Mountainous
Natural process
Predation
Flagship species
Bear, Lynx, Wolf
Eurasian lynx cub
iStock
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
Wolf running across hillside
Luca Melcarne
The project supports the natural recovery of wolves, lynx, and bears in the Czech Republic. Their comeback is threatened by illegal killing, habitat fragmentation, and negative public perception. These threats are addressed through interconnected activities: monitoring, protecting migration corridors, public education, collaboration with foresters and hunters, publishing studies, and scientific research, including telemetry.
Country
Czech Republic
Start year
2003
Size (ha)
250000
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Mountainous
Natural process
Predation
Flagship species
Bear, Lynx, Wolf
Specification
Project:
Large carnivores monitoring
Region:
Beskydy Mountains, Ore Mountains, Lusatian Mountains, Bohemian Forest, Bohemian Forest Foothills, Rychleby Mountains, Kokořínsko, Brdy, Novohradské Mountains, Broumov Region, Javorníky Mountains
Type of protection:
Protected Landscape Areas
Habitat types:
Mixed and coniferous forests, mountain meadows
Keystone species:
Grey wolf, Eurasian lynx, Brown bear
Description
Aim and vision:
The main aim is to improve the conservation status of large carnivores in the Czech Republic to support peaceful coexistence with people.
It includes better monitoring, limiting both legal and illegal hunting, protecting wildlife corridors, and improving public awareness and knowledge.
Uniqueness of the project:
The project operates in a highly human-used landscape with varying densities of large carnivores and human activity. This makes long-term monitoring, public education, and multi-stakeholder cooperation essential.
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Research
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
A network of connected habitats where large carnivores can live and move freely, with strong public support and minimal conflict.
Results so far:
Long-term monitoring system for wolves and lynx established, Hundreds of trained volunteers involved every year, Broad cooperation with foresters, hunters, and scientists, Improved public understanding of the ecological role of large carnivores.
Exchange
Inspirational value:
Large carnivores are powerful symbols of wild nature. Their presence inspires public interest, deeper respect for nature, commitment to conservation and broader environmental awareness.
Experience you would like to share:
Practical knowledge from long-term monitoring of large carnivores, field tracking techniques and volunteer engagement, effective public outreach and education.
Experience you would like to gain:
Improved cooperation with specific stakeholder groups, especially hunters and foresters, strategies for ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of conservation projects.