Giovanna Di Domenico, Maiella National Park

The long-term conservation of large carnivores depends on the ability to engage local communities and economic actors, particularly in expansion areas where social acceptance is a key limiting factor. Most coexistence initiatives focus on mitigating direct human–bear conflicts and on stakeholders affected by damage. While essential, this approach alone may be insufficient to address the broader ecological and social dimensions of large carnivore conservation.
Within the LIFE ARCPROM project, Maiella National Park and WWF Italy developed a Bear Friendly label as an innovative ecosystem-based tool to promote coexistence with the Apennine brown bear. The initiative expands potential beneficiaries beyond damaged producers to include agricultural farmers whose practices support habitat and biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functionality. The method followed a participatory process including: (1) co-design of criteria and communication strategies with economic operators; (2) technical support for the adoption of prevention measures and sustainable farming practices; (3) development of market opportunities; and (4) stakeholder engagement through seminars and workshops. Eligibility criteria combine damage-prevention measures with organic or low-impact farming and conservation of local agricultural varieties. In 2022-23, 27 producers were awarded the Bear Friendly label, covering over 70 products and 66 production sites across 21 (54%) municipalities of the Park.
Reflecting the bear’s role as an umbrella species, our approach reframed coexistence as shared responsibility for wildlife and habitats, rather than solely damage management. The Maiella Bear Friendly label demonstrates how ecosystem-based and participatory strategies can strengthen conservation outcomes by broadening community engagement and supporting habitat functionality, offering a scalable and replicable model for coexistence with large carnivores.