title

Conservation of large carnivorans: international initiatives and Ukraine

author(s)

Volodymyr Domashlinets (orcid: 0000-0001-5438-6189)

affiliation

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationalle Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (Kyiv, Ukraine)

bibliography

Theriologia Ukrainica. 2025. Vol. 30: 166–172.

DOI

language

Ukrainian, with English summary, titles of tables, captures to figs

abstract

The conservation of large carnivorans (LCs) in Europe requires a transition from strict protection to a comprehensive strategy of coexistence. This shift is reflected in the decisions of the Bern Convention (BC) and the Carpathian Convention (CC), which are key regional legal frameworks. LCs (brown bear, grey wolf, and Eurasian lynx) have gradually recovered their populations thanks to international and national conservation measures. At the same time, human–wildlife conflicts have intensified, particularly in agriculture. International policy now demands the development of effective mechanisms for damage prevention and adequate compensation schemes for local communities. At the global level, LC protection is regulated by the CBD, CITES (Appendix II), and CMS. The Bern Convention (BC) is the most influential European instrument, distributing LCs between Appendix II (Strictly Protected) and Appendix III (Protected). This aligns with the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV). A key achievement of the BC is the adoption of the population approach in 2008, which mandates the transboundary management of populations as a single unit, regardless of state borders. In 2024, a decision was made to move the wolf from Appendix II to Appendix III. The Carpathian Convention (CC) is critically important for Ukraine, as the Carpathians are home to Europe’s largest LC populations. The International Action Plan for LCs was adopted within the CC framework. The CC initiated cooperation with the CIC to standardise LC monitoring procedures in 2018. In 2021, Ukraine adopted a law that strengthened the protection of BC species, including LCs. Practical cooperation on LC protection is realised through transboundary projects in the Carpathians, such as OBWIC and ConnectGREEN, in line with the basic requirements of the BC. The success of LC conservation in Ukraine depends on integration into national programs and requires the following: (1) harmonisation of legislation with the Habitats Directive, especially regarding the clear definition of conditions for applying derogations from strict protection; (2) institutionalisation of transboundary mechanisms, ensuring a transition from project funding to sustainable state support for harmonized monitoring systems; and (3) creation of a national conflict management system.

keywords

large carnivorans, coexistence strategy, Bern Convention, Carpathian Convention, transboundary monitoring, compensation schemes, Ukraine

references

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