LIFE ARCPROM International Conference: Three Days of Discussions on Human-Bear Coexistence in Europe
The International Conference of the European project LIFE ARCPROM was successfully held last week (February 25-27) in the city of Larissa. A total of 185 scientists, representatives of environmental organisations, universities, and institutions from Greece, Italy, Spain, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria participated in the conference. The sessions were also attended by students from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Public & Unified Health of the University of Thessaly, as well as a broader audience interested in environmental issues, wildlife, and biodiversity.
During the conference, the results of the LIFE ARCPROM project were presented in detail, and a productive dialogue took place, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experiences from various European regions. The discussions focused on best practices that promote human-bear coexistence.
The official opening ceremony of the International Conference took place on the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the Hippocrates Auditorium of the University of Thessaly. During the ceremony, the objectives and outcomes of the project were presented, along with a documentary produced within the framework of LIFE ARCPROM.
Brief speeches were delivered by the Rector of the University of Thessaly, Professor Charalambos Billinis, the Head of the Management Unit for Protected Areas of Thessaly at NECCA, Dimitris Michalakis, and the Head of the Forest Policy Implementation Inspection for Thessaly and Central Greece at the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN), Zoi Ftika. The Director of the Environmental Organization Callisto and project manager of LIFE ARCPROM, Spyros Psaroudas, provided an overview of the project’s objectives, scope, and results.
As part of the conference, a special tribute was held in honor of Emeritus Professor K. Triantaphyllidis for his contributions to the field of Genetics. During the event, Professor Konstantinos Triantaphyllidis of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki delivered an acceptance speech titled “Genetic Editing of Animal Genomes for Agriculture and Biomedical Applications.” The award was presented to Professor Triantaphyllidis by the Chairman of the Board of the Environmental Organization Callisto, Vaios Koutis.
In the foyer of the JOIST Innovation Park, an exhibition of bear-friendly products and services that have received the RESPECT certification took place during the two-day conference. This certification process for products and services was developed by the University of Thessaly as part of the LIFE ARCPROM project.
On the third day of the event, a field visit was conducted in the Meteora-Kalambaka region. Conference participants had the opportunity to observe the Special Unit for the Detection of Poisoned Baits, operated by NECCA in the Rhodope Mountain Range National Park, as well as the Karelias Bear Deterrence Dog Unit, which operates under OFYPEKA in the Northern Pindos National Park. They also visited the facilities of the “Kivotos tou Dimou” initiative, which breeds indigenous livestock breeds, and finally, Lake Loggas in the Municipality of Meteora, which participates as a “Smart Bear Coexistence” Community under the European LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors project.
About LIFE ARCPROM
The project “LIFE ARCPROM: Improving Human-Bear Coexistence Conditions in Four National Parks of Southern Europe,” coordinated by the Environmental Organization Callisto and implemented in collaboration with OFYPEKA, two Greek universities (University of Thessaly and University of Western Macedonia), as well as Maiella National Park and WWF Italy, aims to enhance the infrastructure and operational capacity of three National Parks in Greece (Northern Pindos, Prespa, and Rhodope Mountain Range) and one in Italy (Maiella). The goal is to significantly improve the conditions for human-bear coexistence within their areas of responsibility.
The key objectives of the LIFE ARCPROM project include:
-Addressing incidents of bears approaching residential areas
-Minimizing illegal practices such as the use of poisoned baits
-Implementing effective measures to prevent damage caused by large carnivores in the agricultural sector.
