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Maximizing community involvement and sense of ownership in bear- based tourism products - experiences from LIFE DINALP bear project

Human acceptance of bears is the most important factor ensuring long-term survival of the species in humandominated landscape of Slovenia. Due to their opportunistic omnivorous food habits, bears often cause conflicts with human activities and interests. Costs oliving with bears rarely offset material benefits. However, presence of charismatic wildlife can be seen as a valuable natural resource and opportunity to develop various bear related ecotourism products. Responsible bear tourism can generate an alternative source of income for local communities in economically distressed rural areas, therefore positively shaping attitudes of locals and tourists. Within LIFE DINALP BEAR project we have developed Guidelines for responsible non-consumptive use of bears in tourism to set recommendations for ensuring minimal impact tourism activities might have on bears. Bear friendly label was designed to award products and services that contribute to better coexistence between bears and humans in Slovenia and Croatia. The label was awarded to tourism programs that follow the guidelines. Tour operators that are willing to pay a share of their profit to nature conservation NGO’s, are presented on Discover Dinarics portal, created to highlight best practice wildlife tourism products on the market. We have involved different local community groups into bear friendly labeling system to boost their sense of co-ownership and generate tourism benefits for a wider community range. Agricultural products produced by farmers who effectively protect their livestock or beehives against bear damages, were awarded with the bear friendly label. As farmers bear most losses due to living in the large carnivore areas, engaging them in tourism activities might encourage them to become more supportive of bear conservation. We will illustrate the development and upto-date outcomes of the bear friendly scheme and bear tourism products designed to maximize ecotourism benefits to local communities

Brown bear, eco tourism, local community

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