The Brown Bear Foundation (FOP) took part in an important international meeting focused on coexistence between people and bears. From 20 to 25 September, Pescasseroli, in Italy’s Central Apennines, hosted the 29th International Conference on Bear Research & Management.

The event brought together hundreds of international experts to share knowledge and strengthen strategies for coexistence between bears and human populations. FOP took part in thematic workshops and presented two posters showcasing some of its latest and most relevant research findings.

 

We consider the exchange of experiences and the discussion of future solutions to be crucial, particularly in a context where managing coexistence requires the participation and coordination of many different stakeholders, including scientists, professionals, authorities, NGOs and local communities.

This activity is part of the LIFE Human Bear Coex project, which is funded by the European Union.

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.

In recent years, the spectacular mountains of Andorra have been visited by bears coming from the neighboring territories of France and Catalonia. With the aim of ensuring the coexistence of bears and human activities, the Andorran environmental authorities organized a new meeting between the Cos de Banders (Andorra’s environmental rangers) and the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP).

During their stay in the western Cantabrian Mountains, the two teams shared experiences and lessons learned. Together with Asturian environmental rangers, they also installed a Culvert trap for capturing bears, and had the opportunity to observe several brown bear individuals.

During one of the days, the Andorran team had the opportunity to learn about and discuss Cantabrian brown bear management with authorities, experts, and environmental rangers from the Principality of Asturias. The meeting took place at the Somiedo Natural Park Interpretation Centre and was also attended by the Mayor of Somiedo, who spoke about the economic benefits that bears bring to the municipality and the lessons learned about coexistence.

Meetings between teams working with bears in different territories and countries are always valuable and highly interesting, as they provide an opportunity to discuss problems and solutions and to share common challenges in bear and biodiversity conservation.

The meeting took place as part of the LIFE Human Bear Coex project, coordinated by FOP and funded by the European Union.

Throughout 2025, six brown bears were relocated in Asturias to prevent potential conflicts with local residents and their activities. The tagging and subsequent radio-tracking of the bears are among the measures included in the project LIFE Human Bear Coex, coordinated by the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP).

In all six cases, the animals were relocated because they had shown signs of becoming habituated to inhabited areas or had repeatedly caused damage in the localities of Tabladiel.lu, Chanu, Pousada de Rengos, Los Eiros, Pontarás (Cangas del Narcea), and Funduveigas (Degaña).

The interventions were carried out by teams from the Joint Institute for Biodiversity Research (IMIB), the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP), la Fundación Oso Asturias, technicians from the Directorate-General for Territorial Stewardship and the Directorate-General for Agricultural Planning, as well as environmental officers. The interventions were carried out while ensuring the safety and welfare of the bears at all times.

In addition, other conflict-prevention measures have been implemented in Asturias as part of the LIFE project, including the installation of bear-proof container covers and the provision of electric fencing to local residents and farmers to protect vegetable gardens, beehives, and livestock buildings at various locations throughout the region.

 

GPS tracking of bears to help mitigate conflicts in villages and their surrounding areas, the use of deterrents and electric fencing to reduce bear-related damage, and the use of bear-proof waste container covers are among the topics addressed in the supplement to the October issue of Quercus magazine.

The Brown Bear Foundation (FOP), coordinator of the project LIFE Human Bear Coex, is the author of the supplement’s content. It was prepared to raise awareness of the actions carried out among this project, which is funded by the European Union.

Quercus, a magazine dedicated to the observation, study, and protection of nature, has been published for almost half a century and is undoubtedly one of the leading Spanish publications specializing in nature and wildlife.