On 22 October, Cangas del Narcea Town Hall hosted a working meeting of the six Asturian municipalities participating in the project LIFE Human Bear Coex, together with the Principality of Asturias, an associated partner in the project, and the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP), the project coordinator.

The municipalities of Somiedo, Belmonte de Miranda, Proaza, Cangas del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias are home to the largest brown bear population in Asturias and, together with three municipalities in León — Villablino, Páramo del Sil and Palacios del Sil — are leading the project at the local level. The project is funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme.

The aim of the project is to prevent and mitigate both current and future conflicts between bears and people. Through measures such as the installation of electric fencing and bear-proof waste-container covers, among other actions, the project seeks to ensure that there are zero bears habituated to human presence or to food sources of human origin in the Cantabrian Mountains.The working meetings provide a forum for discussion and exchange, where progress on the project’s actions is shared and the next steps are planned. They are also an essential tool for effective management and mutual learning, fostering the exchange of knowledge and experience.