The COOP4SAFE International Camp brought together 15 young people from Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania in Maramureș, Romania. These four days were dedicated to the Carpathians, their biodiversity and large carnivores, while getting to know what human-wildlife coexistence means in practice.
Through interactive activities and discussions, participants discovered more about the biodiversity of the Carpathian region and the ecological role of bears, wolves and lynx. They explored myths and facts surrounding large carnivores and discussed practical measures that can help reduce conflicts and support safer coexistence between people and wildlife.
Learning continued outdoors, where participants looked for signs of wildlife presence and explored the importance of suitable habitats and quiet zones for large carnivores. Field activities encouraged them to observe carefully, ask questions and connect what they had learned with the landscape around them.
The programme also introduced participants to the Carpathians as a shared natural and cultural landscape, combining activities focused on biodiversity with local traditions and insights into the work carried out through COOP4SAFE.
Just as importantly, the camp created space for young people from the three countries to get to know each other, work together and exchange perspectives. This international experience reflects one of the key ideas behind COOP4SAFE: wildlife does not recognise national borders, and many of the challenges related to biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife coexistence are shared across the Carpathians. Addressing them therefore requires cooperation across borders.
After four days of learning, exploring and having fun together, participants left Maramureș with new knowledge, experiences and friendships and, we hope, the motivation to share what they discovered and become ambassadors for biodiversity conservation and coexistence in their own communities.
