EU platform on coexistence between people and large carnivores Regional workshop - Venzone, October 12 – 14. 2017

Models for coexistence and communication: the experience of

“Villaggio degli Orsi”- Village of the Bears’ association -

“Villaggio Degli Orsi”, what is it?First of all, it’s a project, written by dr. Stefano Filacorda and his team from the University of Udine,

where main actors are Nature and Local Community

The main goal is to establish an alliance between these two actors:culture, traditions, local products, crafts, … Life of human beings is constantly connected

with natural elements and their dynamics.

Also large carnivores are part of these natural elements; especially Bears.

“Valli del Natisone (Natisone Valleys)” are the “pilot area” of the project : they belong to Friuli VeneziaGiulia region (Italy) but they are on the border with Slovenia, along The European Green Belt

In our region Bears come spontaneusly from Slovenja and Trentino Alto Adige

The alliance would like to guarantee a peaceful and sustainable coexistence between the involved “actors”. We never forget that since ancient times, humans and wildlife have shared the same territory

Thanks to an INTERREG IIIA ITA-SLO (2004-2008) project University of Udine also a visitor centre tookthe name “Village of the bears”. It is located in the heart of “Valli del Natisone”, in Stupizza (Pulferomunicipality)

Large carnivores are the main “PLAYERS”of the visitor centre. They lead thevisitors to discover their characteristics,habits and needs, reminding how inhistory this animals were connected topeople with conflicting emotions.

The visitor centre is a Chest ofinformation: it preserves all the resultsof the researches of the University ofUdine. These aim to contribute to thelarge carnivores’ conservation.

Animals, when captured for studies, are named with

“human” names.

Andrey

Bepi

Madi

Alessandro

Kids and their families are the main beneficiaries of the visitor centre. Here they are involved in becoming keepers of Nature and of Territory. Several practical activities are carried out to raise awareness about the relationship between people and wildlife

The “Villaggio degli Orsi” association was born in 2010 to “take care” of the project and of the visitor centre. The association is strictly connected to the University of Udine: lots of information come from

University researches and the association spreads these info to people in an appropriate way.

Members of the association give to University of Udine their support in monitoring and researches, so they really know what to explain and tell to the public

Thanks to the funding of public institutions (schools, parks, municipalities..) but also with the passionof the members, environmental education activities cross the borders and start to involve kids fromAustria and, especially, Slovenia

The association wants to enhance, above all, the community of Natisone Valleys. Together theypropose common initiatives in order to promote the presence of Bear as a point of strenght and asidentity of this territory

University researches go on and every day the amount of information suitable for

people is increasing. It is very important to inform people and to

spread information in a proper way!

Large public is engaged through thematic conferences in cooperation with other associations orinstitutions, proposing projects and creating networks. The effort is big, the energies spent are many,but cooperating and sharing it is possible to achieve great results.

The association proposes training courses for teachers in order to form other awarecommunicators, sensitive to these issues.

Competent operators- nature guide and Teachers

The association wants also to learn from others; therefore the members are constantly trained andlooking for opportunities to discuss and share their vision with colleagues also at international level

In last years, local community has been more involved: thematic eco-tourism about large carnivoreswas born, with the goal of demonstrating that the presence of these animal in this area can be asource for the local economy.

Initiatives bring tourists to discover thesecrets of the places they visit thanks tothe contribution of people living andworking in the valleys, and caring forthem. Shepherds, farmers, hoteliers,guides, researchers: all together to raiseawareness about their reality.

IN PREALPI GIULIE NATURE PARK :

The coexistence between large carnivores and

local community

Bears and People without borders!

Transboundery ecotourisminitiative

Our blog https://www.facebook.com/Il-Villaggio-degli-Orsi-155013801203955/

To spread properinformation and to update large

public concerningresearches,

problems and solutions …..

Thanks to all of you!https://www.facebook.com/Il-Villaggio-degli-Orsi-/villaggioorsi.dian@uniud.itwww.villaggiodegliorsi.it