Project number: 100322836
Project title: Objective Wolves Acceptance in human-altered cross boundary lanDscapes (OWAD)
Programme: Cooperation programme Free State Saxony – Czech Republic 2014-2020
Project coordinator: CZU
Project partners: Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic
Project leader: doc. Aleš Vorel, Ph.D.
Contact person: Ing. Michaela Kopřivová Stejskalová, Ph.D.
Project schedule: 11/2017 – 09/2020
Total project budget: 346 132,53 EUR
Visit the project website: https://owad.fzp.czu.cz/
Abstract:
Wolves (Canis lupus) were extirpated within almost all countries of Central Europe – mainly during 18th and 19th centuries. Currently their populations are re-established in many areas of Europe and gradually spreads to the territory of the Czech Republic. The wolf is particularly protected species and predator with a natural function of regulator of the ungulates. Currently, however, a compatible program for the care and monitoring of cross-border wolf populations is missing. The main objective of the project is the sustainable return, existence and establishment of the wolf as an apex predator in a human-altered cross-border landscape - a complex pilot study from the Czech-Saxon border region.
Partial goals include:
a) TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE FROM SAXONY;
i. Harmonization and optimization of wolf monitoring in order to increase the effectiveness of protecting economic interests;
ii. formulation of effective tools to prevent and minimize damage caused by wolves (system of compensations, preventive measures in the form of fences and shepherd dogs);
iii. enhancing communication and dealing with farmers and hunters in order to effectively protect the wolf;
b) RESEARCH to understand the ecological needs of wolves in the border area;
c) PUBLIC INFORMATION on the role of the wolf in human-altered cultural landscape of Central Europe.