On March 2 and 3, the first meeting of the Scientific Committee of the LIFE Bears with Future project was held in Villablino (León). The researchers and experts participating in the meeting have been Pedro Álvarez Álvarez and José Carlos Pérez Girón from the University of Oviedo, Emilio R. Díaz Varela and María J. Lombardero from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Fernando Castedo Dorado from the University of León, José Vicente López Bao from the Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC/UO/PA) and Javier Cano from the Fundación Tierra Pura, in addition to the technical team from the Fundación Oso Pardo.

During the meeting, the main results of the preparatory actions of the project were presented and debated, and field visits were made to areas planned for fleshy fruit plantations and chestnut plantations in Anllares del Sil (Páramo del Sil, León), and areas planned for chestnut treatments in Gedrez (Cangas del Narcea, Asturias), where the action proposals have been reviewed and suggestions and recommendations have been collected from the experts.

Up-to-date scientific information and researchers’ advice is considered a key aspect in the design, execution and monitoring of the LIFE Bears with Future actions, taking into account that the objective is to facilitate adaptation to climate change considering the forecasts of future climate scenarios, and that the project is working with species with very specific requirements and phytosanitary conditions. In addition to a regular dialogue with the specialists of the Scientific Committee, future meetings and field visits will be developed in order to evaluate the result of the interventions and the necessary adaptations to guarantee their success and long-term maintenance.