Description
Czech nature is rich and diverse but also contains many vulnerable species. Some endangered species may cause damage or incite different professional groups concerned. A document called a management plan provides complex knowledge of species and guidelines for nature conservation authorities and researches how to maintain species populations and to avoid conflicts. The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), grey wolf (Canis lupus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) are specially protected species therefore preparation of their management plan was recommended by the conceptual document. Project meets target of the state environmental policy of the Czech Republic for 2012-2020. The main objective of the project is preparation of the “Management Plan for Eurasian Lynx, Grey Wolf and Brown Bear” (large carnivors). A literature review will be conducted, assessed the current occurrence of three species, biology and ecology and detailed study of main threatened factors. Project outcomes are improving knowledge of the species occurrence and preparation their management plan. The majority of measures consists of gathering data about species to evaluate influence of large carnivores on livestock and bees and impact of transport infrastructure and fragmentation of the landscape on the large-carnivores migration. Specific analyses are planned for lynx: genetic variability, spatial analysis activities and study of natural prey, and for wolf: hybridization with domestic dogs. Project outputs are review of information sources and results of the studies. Target activity is creating management-plan text. Project includes publicity.The target group of the project is primarily species and Ministry of the Environment. Secondarily, the protection and connected activities will carry out awareness-raising in the general public via education. There is a local partner Institute of Vertebrate Biology, contributing to the project by expertise and experience.
Summary of project results
Re-occurrence of large carnivores in the Czech Republic during the last few decades also brings high degree of responsibility for the Czech government and non-governmental conservation organisations. The government of the Czech Republic has committed to protect endangered species (Bern Convention) and wildlife biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity). The conservation of large carnivores as apex predators surely belongs to activities essential for fulfilling the obligations following the signed international conventions. For preparation of any management plans it was necessary to use data about the taxonomy and distribution of target species. The one of aims was to put together literature records and own scientific data on valid taxonomy of Eurasian lynx, brown bear and grey wolf and their recent and historical distribution in the whole distribution range. Other activities in this project were: Find out distribution of three large carnivore species in the Czech Republic, rocessing of data on biology and ecology of three species of large carnivores, Molecular-genetic analyses of Eurasian lynx population, Distribution of grey wolf and evaluation of possible hybridisation with domestic dog in the Czech Republic, Feeding ecology of Eurasian lynx, Grey wolf and brown bear, Diet competition among three large carnivore species and with other carnivore species, Spatial activity and habitat use of Eurasian lynx, Influence of Eurasian lynx on its main prey species, Influence of large carnivores on livestock and beekeeping, Assessment of main threats influencing survival of large carnivore populations, Detailed analysis of main factors influencing the abundance of large carnivores in the Czech Republic, Influence of traffic infrastructure and landscape fragmentation on migration of large carnivores, pizootology of large carnivores.The main activity which summarized all new knowledge was the preparation of action plan for large carnivores.
Summary of bilateral results