CoCo at the TusnadEcoBear Conference 2026

The TusnadEcoBear Conference 2026 in Băile Tușnad brought together scientists, practitioners, managers and communities working toward a shared future for humans and wildlife. The CoCo project co‑organised the conference together with its Romanian partner ICDCRM, as well as Consiliul Județean Harghita and Asociația de Dezvoltare Intercomunitară Csomad‑Bálványos.

What do changes in large-carnivore protection mean for mountain pastoralists?

ICDCRM organised the session "What do changes in large-carnivore protection mean for mountain pastoralists?", bringing together 24 specialists from different fields to discuss the risks and benefits of downlisting wolves and brown bears from strictly protected to protected status.

Drawing on CoCo research findings and a wildlife-law perspective on potential brown bear downlisting, presented by Prof. Han Somsen (Tilburg University), participants explored experiences and expectations following wolf downlisting, along with the potential implications of a similar change for brown bears in the Carpathians.

In focus groups, participants discussed what has changed, or is expected to change, for livestock breeders following wolf downlisting, and identified potential risks and benefits of brown bear downlisting for pastoralist communities in the Carpathians. The discussions examined how changes in protection status could influence coexistence, taking into account differences in species ecology, local conditions and governance. The perspectives shared will contribute to CoCo's research and policy recommendations.

Thank you to all 24 participants for sharing their expertise and contributing to this exchange between research, policy and practice!