This June, the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP), coordinator of the project LIFE Human Bear Coex took part in two local fairs: the Narcenatur Fair, organised by the Cangas del Narcea Town Council (Asturias) from 5 to 7 June, and the fair held on 20 June in the village of Treceño (Cantabria), organised by the Valdáliga Town Council and the Cantabrian Hunting Federation. On both occasions, FOP provided information materials and organised environmental education activities.

The activities held at the FOP stand aimed to increase public knowledge and awareness of the brown bear and to showcase the actions being carried out as part of the LIFE Human Bear Coex project. While children coloured wildlife drawings and learned to identify the tracks of different species, the FOP team spoke with adult visitors, providing information and recommendations on how to prevent and mitigate potential conflicts between people and bears. Visitors were also informed about the possibility of receiving support in conflict situations, as well as about the measures needed to prevent bears from becoming habituated to human presence and to food sources of human origin. “Zero habituated bears” is the goal of the LIFE project coordinated by FOP.

FOP’s participation in local events and fairs is particularly valuable, as it provides an opportunity to establish direct contact with the people who share the territory with brown bears, as well as with those who engage in tourism and recreational activities in bear areas.