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IUCN SSC Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe Specialist Group
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
As the glaciers retreated from the European landscape at the end of the ice - age, humans were quick to colonise the emerging land. During the 10.000 years that have passed since then, the human ...
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As the glaciers retreated from the European landscape at the end of the ice - age, humans were quick to colonise the emerging land. During the 10.000 years that have passed since then, the human population of Europe has grown to its present 500 million, and our influence on the landscape has been considerable. Today, there are no true wilderness areas left in Europe where nature holds sway without at least some humans influence. However, a surprising amount of wildlife has survived, including most of the large herbivore (red deer, roe deer, wild boar, reindeer, moose, ibex, chamois, bison) and large carnivore species (brown bear, wolf, wolverine, Eurasian and Iberian lynx). LCIE maintains and restores, in coexistence with people, viable populations of large carnivores as an integral part of ecosystems and landscapes across Europe.

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Group leadership

Prof Luigi BOITANI

Luigi Boitani is Honorary (Emeritus) Professor of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Rome, Dept. of Biology and Biotechnologies. He has been Chair of the Department of Animal and Human Biology for 10 years (2000-10) and President of the Society for Conservation Biology (2009-11). Founder and Director of the Master program “Conservation of animal biodiversity” at the University of Rome, 2002-14. Affiliated Professor at the Department of Natural Resources, Idaho University, Moscow and member of the College of Graduate Studies, 2000-2011.

His main scientific interests are on a) the social ecology of carnivores, particularly wolves and bears on which he has been working since 1972; b) patterns and models of species distributions based on GIS tools; and c) planning and conservation of protected areas, with emphasis on Africa and Europe where he has contributed to the management plans of more than 30 national parks. He has lectured widely in North America and Europe.

He has been member of the IUCN’s SSC Steering Committee since 1994. He is the Chair of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, a SSC Specialist Group; Chair of the IUCN Red List Scientific Committee; CEO of the Fondation Segré in Geneva; founder and president of the Institute of Applied Ecology in Rome. He received the WWF Conservation Award and the IUCN Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit in 2012. He is author of more than 400 scientific papers and 10 books. 

Luigi Boitani is Honorary (Emeritus) Professor of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Rome, Dept. of Biology and Biotechnologies. He has been Chair of the Department of Animal ...

More about the Specialist Group

The LCIE views itself as a node (or hub) in the centre of an expert network that covers a wide range of activity. The LCIE therefore overlaps with many activities for which it can only claim partial credit. These include many of the conservation and / or research projects that group members and associated partners work with. In addition, will come some projects or specific products that are completely produced under the LCIE umbrella. This will embrace various ...

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More about the Specialist Group

The LCIE views itself as a node (or hub) in the centre of an expert network that covers a wide range of activity. The LCIE therefore overlaps with many activities for which it can only claim partial credit. These include many of the conservation and / or research projects that group members and associated partners work with. In addition, will come some projects or specific products that are completely produced under the LCIE umbrella. This will embrace various once-off activities such as guidelines for good conservation practice, letters written, workshops held, position statements developed etc. Finally, our ambition is to contribute to providing the inspiration, methodology, vision and initiation to a wider group of activities conducted by conservationists, managers and researchers throughout Europe, and the rest of the world.

The LCIE has 3 types of product:

  1. Coordination and networking between projects run by LCIE group members and  partners.
  2. Some specific LCIE working projects and products.
  3. Inspiration and guidance to the wider conservation community.
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IUCN SSC Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe consists of a group of experts who give their time freely to help conserve large carnivores in Europe.

Specialist Group work

The LCIE works to improve the management of 6 species of large carnivores in Europe. The LCIE provides updated data on species presence and abundance and support managements through the technical guidelines on best practices to enhance the coexistence of carnivores and human economic activities.

Understanding threats to Large Carnivores

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This reintegration requires that we find pragmatic ways to coexist with these species - species which unfortunately can often prove to be rather difficult neighbours. Through the application of both the fruits of modern scientific knowledge and traditional experience the LCIE believe that conflicts can be overcome, or at least minimised, and that large carnivores can be successfully reintegrated into the European landscape.

Large Carnivore’s on the IUCN Red List

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LCIE assesses species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to inform conservation efforts.

Annual Report

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Large carnivores, such as brown bears and wolves, are increasing in number and distribution areas across most of Europe. Their return to ranges where they were eradicated centuries or decades ago poses difficult challenges toward coexistence. Credit: LEYENDA

2018 meeting of the LCIE at Trento, Italy. Credit: LEYENDAS

Large carnivores, such as brown bears and wolves, are increasing in number and distribution areas across most of Europe. Their return to ranges where they were eradicated centuries or decades ago poses difficult challenges toward coexistence. Credit: LEYENDA

Photo: CCO

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