Why this project matters
The Carpathians are an important European wildlife corridor, but habitat fragmentation and increasing human-wildlife conflicts affect both large carnivores and local communities. Because species such as brown bears, wolves and lynx move across national borders, effective monitoring, habitat management and conflict prevention require coordinated action between Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Capitalisation
Capacity building relevant
The project strengthens the capacities of intervention units, conservation professionals and local stakeholders through training, knowledge exchange and coordinated cross-border action.
Innovation / Novelty
The project combines artificial intelligence, real-time wildlife cameras, citizen science and digital monitoring to detect large carnivores near settlements and support early intervention.
Project type
Pilot Approaches
The project pilots nature-based habitat restoration and tests prevention tools, including an AI-supported early-warning system for human-wildlife conflicts.
Achievements
Achieved so far
- Smart early-warning system tested: Real-time wildlife cameras, artificial intelligence, the Cluey mobile application and the Focus platform have been combined to detect brown bears near settlements and alert intervention teams. The system has already generated its first real alert under field conditions.
- Monitoring cameras installed: Five cameras have been installed in high-risk areas in Maramureș, including four in the Baia Sprie area and one in Săpânța.
- Citizen science activities launched: Residents, hikers and visitors can use the Cluey application to record wildlife observations and contribute to biodiversity monitoring in Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
- Multilingual educational guide published: Living Side by Side: A Practical Guide to Coexistence with Large Carnivores is available in English, Romanian, Slovak and Ukrainian. It includes information and practical activities for children, teachers and educators.
- Professional training delivered: Training in Maramureș covered wildlife handling, conflict prevention, community engagement, risk communication and cooperation between intervention organisations. Participants also examined equipment purchased for field interventions.
In development
- Early-warning system optimisation: The monitoring and alert system is being further developed and integrated into the Cluey application.
- Cross-border biodiversity monitoring: Partners are continuing to collect professional and citizen-generated data on large carnivores, habitats and human-wildlife conflicts.
- Habitat restoration and ecological connectivity: Nature-based restoration actions are being piloted to improve habitats and maintain wildlife corridors.
- Conflict-prevention tools: Partners are co-designing and testing practical tools to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in local communities.
What can be reused
The project’s main transferable value lies in connecting professional biodiversity monitoring, citizen participation, habitat restoration and rapid conflict prevention within one cross-border approach.
Reusable resources
- Living Side by Side: A Practical Guide to Coexistence with Large Carnivores
2. Cluey citizen science application and guide on how to nget involved
Download the Cluey app and follow the guide to get involved in the project.
Reusable concepts
- Combining different sources of monitoring data: Camera-trap footage, artificial intelligence, field observations and community reports are used together to identify risks and support early action.
- Involving local communities in wildlife monitoring: Residents, hikers and visitors can contribute observations that complement professional biodiversity monitoring across the project area.
- Coordinating action across borders: Conservation organisations, protected-area managers, wildlife experts, authorities and intervention teams work together across Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
- Restoring habitats and ecological connections: Nature-based restoration activities improve habitats and help maintain wildlife corridors while also supporting the prevention of human-wildlife conflicts.