In July 2025, at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development, the first official meeting of the Coordinating Group for Large Carnivores was held. This inter-institutional mechanism was established to strengthen a coordinated and professional approach to managing protected species such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), and wolf (Canis lupus).
The group was established by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo following years of continuous and intensive work led by ECOPANA, in collaboration with WWF Adria, in this field. Alongside this, Kosovo also established the First Intervention Team for Large Carnivores, a technical structure to support relevant institutions on the ground in emergency or recurring cases of large carnivores appearing in inhabited areas. Both structures were created and made operational with financial support from WWF Adria, as part of the project on conservation and coexistence with large carnivores in the Dinaric region.
Key topics discussed at the first meeting of the Coordinating Group included:
-
Defining the competencies and responsibilities of the group in accordance with current legislation;
-
Developing the 2025 Work Plan with concrete and priority actions;
-
Reviewing recent cases of bears appearing in populated areas and establishing rapid response protocols;
-
The need for structured cooperation between institutions, municipalities, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders.
The importance of drafting protocols and strategies for incident management, providing ongoing training for relevant authorities, and developing awareness campaigns was also emphasized—not only to promote wildlife conservation but also to educate citizens on proper behavior during encounters with large carnivores, preventing conflicts and ensuring safety for both humans and wildlife.
Additionally, the group committed to strengthening regional and international cooperation in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and relevant international conventions.
ECOPANA and WWF Adria will continue to support this process as active technical partners, empowering institutions through training, necessary tools, and cross-border collaboration, with the aim of building a sustainable system for the management of and coexistence with large carnivores in Kosovo.
