Damage officials discussing the importance of damage prevention

When damage cases occur, the damaged owners call the competent Slovenia Forest Service (SFS) regional unit and report the damage. Damage officials then check the location and prepare a report, which is the basis for the compensation. Damage officials are therefore the first contact with farmers and other owners when large carnivores cause damage to their property. Beside agricultural advisers, SFS officials are the ones who are able to advise farmers on how to take action and arrange appropriate protection to prevent attacks from reoccurring.

In the scope of the newly established so called wolf-prevention intervention units (WPIUs), the LIFE WolfAlps EU project representatives are meeting with SFS damage officials from all regional units, and discussing about current events and challenges from the field. Part of these events are also field excursions, where the WPIU members analyse different measures of damage prevention systems and visit farmers who are interested in improving their approaches.