Available on-line the booklet presenting the main results of the LIFE WolfAlps EU Project

Available online the brochure presenting the main results achieved in 5 years of activity by LIFE WolfAlps EU. A European project dedicated to the development of actions and best practices to improve coexistence in the Alps between wolves and human activities, thanks to the collaboration of an international partnership of 20 entities (in Italy, France, Slovenia and Austria) and a multidisciplinary approach.

The LIFE WolfAlps EU project, co-funded under the European LIFE Nature and Biodiversity program, ended on September 30, 2024, after five years of intensive and collaborative work. Thanks to the contribution of 20 partners, 119 international supporters and 6 co-financers, for the first time actions were developed across the entire alpine ecosystem, working in a coordinated way at the wolf population level, overcoming challenges related to administrative and cultural differences to develop lasting solutions and best practices.

The informative booklet, Layman’s report, outlines the project’s main objectives and achievements during its five years of activity, through a multidisciplinary approach to support coexistence, to ensure a favorable conservation status of the alpine wolf population in the long term, while mitigating conflicts among the stakeholder groups involved.

Common methods and standards were developed to produce a robust assessment of the status of the alpine wolf population, while working to reduce the impact of poaching, identify and control cases of hybridization, and mitigate habitat fragmentation. Fundamental was the work on prevention of damage to livestock: prevention intervention teams provided support to livestock keepers in setting up efficient prevention systems and accessing compensation measures. Great emphasis was placed on dialogue and stakeholder engagement through the development of platforms and public meetings and with the Stewardship program. A higher quality of information, awareness of coexistence issues and dissemination of correct information about wolves was promoted through ecotourism activities, public events, exhibitions, workshops, publications, educational activities for students of all ages and teachers, and debunking of fake news.

The project actions and results achieved were possible thanks to the commitment and coordination of thousands of people, dozens of public institutions, private entities and associations that have created an interdisciplinary network on the Alpine territory that will continue to work for the coexistence of wolves and human activities in the long term, thanks to the governance actions now an integral part of each State and Entity, the real legacy left by the project. 

For more information: www.lifewolfalps.eu.