Monitoring Visit for the LIFE ARCPROM Project in the Rhodope Mountain Range National Park
On April 10 and 11, 2025, a monitoring visit for the European project LIFE ARCPROM was successfully conducted in the area of the Rhodope Mountain Range National Park, Greece. Representatives of the European Commission participated, along with staff members of all project beneficiaries.
On the second day of the meeting, a field visit took place at locations where LIFE ARCPROM actions have been implemented. The Commission representatives and project partners spoke with a beekeeper who had installed an electric fence and a surveillance camera as part of the project. They also visited residents whose yards were equipped with bear deterrent devices by the LIFE ARCPROM Bear Emergency Team (BET).
Additionally, the visit included a stop at a livestock farm where the owner had been provided with two Greek shepherd dogs through the project. These dogs are the best protectors against large carnivore attacks. As part of the monitoring visit, demonstrations were given by two specialized units: the Poisoned Bait Detection Dogs Unit and the Bear-Deterrent “Karelian” Dogs Unit of the Natural Environment Climate & Change Agency (NECCA), both operating under LIFE ARCPROM. The group also took a short walk along one of the two thematic bear trails created in the Rhodope Mountain Range National Park area.
Finally, the Commission representatives and project staff members engaged with a local entrepreneur offering outdoor sports activities in the Paranesti region and producers whose products have received the Respect Label certification for bear-friendly practices as part of the project.
About the LIFE ARCPROM Project
The LIFE ARCPROM project, titled “Improving the Conditions for Coexistence of Brown Bears and Humans in 4 National Parks in Southern Europe,” is coordinated by the environmental NGO “Callisto”. It is implemented with the participation of NECCA, two Greek universities (University of Thessaly and University of Western Macedonia), the Maiella National Park, and WWF Italy. The primary goal is capacity building of three National Parks in Greece (Northern Pindos, Prespa, and Rhodope Mountain Range) and one in Italy (Maiella), to improve coexistence conditions between humans and bears in their territories.
The key objectives of the LIFE ARCPROM project include addressing incidents of bears approaching inhabited areas, minimizing illegal practices such as the use of poisoned baits, implementing effective measures to prevent damage caused by large carnivores, and more.
The project’s actions are expected to be completed by June 2025.
