Abstract
The return of wolves to their former habitats on the alpine arc has provoked conflicts with human activities, especially livestock farming on summer pastures. Mountain pastures are examples of semi-natural habitats of high biodiversity created through an interaction between environmental factors as climate and topography, and human activities. To preserve this traditional land use, states promote and finance livestock protection measures as fences, shepherds and guardian dogs. Nevertheless, especially in mountain regions, these measures are often still rejected, due to the fear they may not work properly and could change the attractiveness of the landscape.
The European LIFEstockProtect project uses an innovative peer to peer approach to encounter this human-wildlife conflict as farmers’ associations coordinate the activities in cooperation with the environmental, research and tourism sectors. Capacity building training from farmers for farmers about livestock protection measures will be conducted in the next five years in the German speaking area of the Alps, namely Bavaria, Austria and Alto Adige/Südtirol (IT). Collaboration with and learning from farmers is key, also regarding the testing of fence materials, the establishment of volunteer networks and ambassador activities. In this context, the project will not limit its focus solely on livestock protection but wants to create awareness for the importance of mountain livestock farming for the landscape, recreation and local tradition. Based on that, it will elaborate potential benefits for the local community in regard to animal welfare, valorisation of local products and touristic opportunities. The necessary changes due to wolves’ return will be addressed in a transparent way and it is a crucial objective of the project to increase the resilience of summer pasture farming and open new perspectives.