Across Europe, brown bear conservation is increasingly shaped not only by ecological dynamics but also by governance quality, institutional trust, and political context. While scientific knowledge on human–bear conflict mitigation has expanded substantially, its translation into practice remains uneven, particularly in regions where wildlife governance is weakened by political interference, polarization, or declining public trust.
This contribution examines the growing role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academic institutions as key actors in sustaining human–bear coexistence under conditions of fragile or contested state-led wildlife management. Using Slovakia as a case study, the presentation illustrates how civil society and research institutions increasingly compensate for gaps in public governance by delivering conflict prevention measures, producing independent data, facilitating public engagement, and maintaining alignment with international conservation standards.
Human–bear coexistence depends not only on technical solutions but also on the resilience of governance systems and the presence of credible non-state actors capable of sustaining long-term, science-based approaches. Strengthening cooperation between NGOs, academia, and international conservation networks may therefore be critical for maintaining coexistence outcomes where formal institutions are under strain.