The COOP4SAFE project (HUSKROUA/23/RS/1.2/005) addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the Carpathians: ensuring viable coexistence between humans and large carnivores such as brown bears, wolves, and lynx. Despite being one of Europe’s most important wildlife corridors, the region faces increasing pressures from habitat loss, agriculture, and human-wildlife conflicts.
Innovative monitoring and prevention
In Maramureș (RO), WWF Romania has started piloting an early warning system that uses real-time cameras and artificial intelligence to detect bears approaching human settlements. This proactive approach allows rapid alerts to response teams, helping to prevent incidents before they occur. The collected data has already been integrated into a digital monitoring platform, combining field observations, camera recordings, and community input to provide a detailed picture of wildlife dynamics.
Wildlife cameras have already been installed in key sites, revealing the movement patterns, feeding areas, and interactions of large carnivores and other species. This information is crucial for planning conservation measures and understanding where human activities overlap with wildlife corridors.
Cross-border cooperation for coexistence
The project unites organisations from Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine, including nature parks, NGOs, and hunting associations. Together, they are:
• Restoring habitats and maintaining ecological corridors to ensure the free movement of wildlife.
• Developing and testing tools to prevent human-wildlife conflicts, adapted to local realities.
• Engaging local communities in conservation through a citizen science app, enabling residents to contribute to biodiversity monitoring.
These actions are grounded in local traditions. In Maramureș villages, the bear has long been both a respected presence and a neighbour, woven into folklore and community identity. By combining modern technology with traditional knowledge, COOP4SAFE fosters solutions that are both innovative and culturally meaningful.
Why it matters
By addressing human-wildlife conflicts through data-driven monitoring, nature-based solutions, and strong cross-border partnerships, COOP4SAFE is safeguarding biodiversity while improving safety and quality of life for local communities. The project demonstrates how coexistence can be achieved when science, tradition, and cooperation come together.
More about the project on our website: https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu/project-map/wwf-romania-filiala-maramures-association/
